How much do you drink, honestly?

[AppleJuice]

A glass of sherry once a week (if that) - nothing else. My liver was on the verge of packing up before I entered the world (so was pretty much everything else really - lungs, brain, the lot; I'm supposed to be a vegetable), so I drink very little.

Edited by AppleJuice on Monday 27th November 11:54

[Seventy]

NDA said:

But to answer your question, at least half a bottle of wine a day - which I'm told is too much.

See, I don't think that half a bottle of wine a day is too much. I know that's 30-40 units.
I reckon I drink about 3-4 bottles of red a week evenly spread. I will occasionally have a bottle but tend to regret it - poor sleep, wake up early, hangover. If I mix it's game over.
I had an atrial fibrillation episode a few years ago which scared the crap out of me and I was advised to give up drinking entirely, which I did for 2 years but then gradually crept back.

[okgo]

I should think I am consuming a huge number of units. I've drunk every day almost for as long as I can remember in the recent weeks. Some days it will be 12 hours of it, pints and pints, wine, shots, whatever.

I had probably in the region of 20 pints, a decent part of a bottle of vodka, few glasses of wine, few bloody marys, espresso martinis from Thursday to Saturday night. I don't need it, and I don't feel bad for doing it.

One thing that seems to help is that I do a lot of exercise, and no matter how much I seem to get through my hangovers last about 2 hours.

[Davey S2]

Not getting hangovers isn't a good sign. If you can put away a lot of booze but feel perfectly fine the following morning it just shows you have built up a tolerance to it.

I had a skin full on Saturday. First time out with the boys for quite a while and out watching the rugby so must have had around 10 pints. Didn't feel great yesterday I must admit.

[Welshbeef]

So know one friend who drinks each and every single day and has done since his late teenage years - he is mid 40’s now.

Minimum is 2 pints but usually more.
Thin as a rake
Doesn’t touch spirits only beer/ale specifically.
He has never even tried to stop doesn’t want to likes the lifestyle.

[Robertj21a]

Greg_D said:

the government guidelines are waaaay too low IMO.

If they were a little more realistic, then people may make an effort to stay close to them.

I'm not a heavy drinker: i will often have a couple of 'home measures' (probably doubles/triples) of vodka a couple of nights a week watching telly, a couple of doubles at the pub on a wednesday night and a glass of wine/double vodka/coke on meals out.

that puts me at between 25-30 units a week.
For my trouble the government labels me some sort of lush, which is palpably ridiculous, that is only moderate drinking by any sensible measure.

Interestingly, I'd say that the government measures are probably about right. We're all being sensible on here (there's been some excellent posts so far - well done guys !) but it does seem that a few may not be recognising just how much alcohol their liver is trying to cope with.

[Saleen836]

Maybe 1 or 2 pints of lager shandy every 2 or 3 months during the summer rest of the year every 4 or 5 months, no medical reason for not drinking I just don't like the taste of alcohol in any shape or form

[cologne2792]

Nothing - otherwise by now I would be a raging alcoholic.

[DuncB7]

I hope some the previous replies are willy waving because they are concerning if true.

10 units/week average for me.

[Robertj21a]

DuncB7 said:

I hope some the previous replies are willy waving because they are concerning if true.

10 units/week average for me.

Yes, quite possibly, but it's better for others to feel that they can freely express themselves. Let's not start making judgements and going down a path that PH is renowned for.

I, for one, would like to hear from others who drink 'quite a bit' - whether they see/know it to be a problem or not.

[VW_Sam_]

There's nothing better than a good pint in the local or over food! My drinking habits aren't too bad (I don't think anyway!) I go to the gym 4-5 times per week and eat healthy.. alcohol is probably my unhealthiest habit..
Mon - usually nothing
Tue - again, usually nothing
Wed - if out with friends, 1-2 beers
Thurs - same as above, otherwise nothing
Fri - out for food I'll have a couple of beers, however if at the local this can go to 3-4 beers with several Disaronno and Coke's.
Sat - as above, maybe more if out for a night out
Sun - maybe 1 beer over Sunday lunch.

All in all, pretty reasonable and average I'd say..!

[okgo]

DuncB7 said:

I hope some the previous replies are willy waving because they are concerning if true.

10 units/week average for me.

What would be to gain from people lying?

10 units, is what? 4 pints or something? Unsurprising that much of what folk have said would sound like a lot.

[Greg_D]

VW_Sam_ said:

There's nothing better than a good pint in the local or over food! My drinking habits aren't too bad (I don't think anyway!) I go to the gym 4-5 times per week and eat healthy.. alcohol is probably my unhealthiest habit..
Mon - usually nothing
Tue - again, usually nothing
Wed - if out with friends, 1-2 beers
Thurs - same as above, otherwise nothing
Fri - out for food I'll have a couple of beers, however if at the local this can go to 3-4 beers with several Disaronno and Coke's.
Sat - as above, maybe more if out for a night out
Sun - maybe 1 beer over Sunday lunch.

All in all, pretty reasonable and average I'd say..!

that was the point i was making earlier, you're about double 'recommended' consumption. that said, i agree with you that your consumption is totally reasonable.

[toon10]

Robertj21a said:

Yes, quite possibly, but it's better for others to feel that they can freely express themselves. Let's not start making judgements and going down a path that PH is renowned for.

I, for one, would like to hear from others who drink 'quite a bit' - whether they see/know it to be a problem or not.

I don't class myself as an alcoholic as I go a good few days without even thinking about it. However, I do drink more than I should at weekends and I'm aware that I do. I'm also aware that my current intake, which has increased over the years is a problem. I don't session drink much but my beers are around the 10% in strength mark. I'm under no illusions that only having 3 or 4 strong beers instead of 10 having Carlings is somehow better for me.

[rossub]

DuncB7 said:

I hope some the previous replies are willy waving because they are concerning if true.

10 units/week average for me.

Pretty naive comment to be honest. I’m sure there is zero willy waving going on here - very few people will be proud of drinking too much and it takes guts to openly admit to some of what’s been said so far.

[rossub]

As a couple we spend about £250 per month - all at home. Thankfully the cigs were given up in 2005!

[Johnnytheboy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Just think how much income tax would have to go up if we didn't!

[NDA]

Seventy said:

NDA said:

But to answer your question, at least half a bottle of wine a day - which I'm told is too much.

See, I don't think that half a bottle of wine a day is too much. I know that's 30-40 units.
I reckon I drink about 3-4 bottles of red a week evenly spread. I will occasionally have a bottle but tend to regret it - poor sleep, wake up early, hangover. If I mix it's game over.
I had an atrial fibrillation episode a few years ago which scared the crap out of me and I was advised to give up drinking entirely, which I did for 2 years but then gradually crept back.

My cardiologist disagrees - he says too much. As I was opened up recently for my own private showing of the Alien special effects, he thinks I need to cut down.

[Robertj21a]

NDA said:

My cardiologist disagrees - he says too much. As I was opened up recently for my own private showing of the Alien special effects, he thinks I need to cut down.

I think many people reading this may well know already that they are probably drinking a bit too much, it seems to be just a few who are in total denial. It would be nice to let this thread continue without judgements being made by others, so that any who have concerns over alcohol can feel free to come on here and talk freely.

[bmwmike]

bmwmike said:

Mon - nothing
Tue - nothing
Wed - 3 pint
Thur - 3 pints
Friday 2 pints and bottle of wine
Saturday 2 pints and half bottle of wine
Sunday 2 pints and half bottle of wine

There i said it.

This is mine, no willy waving here. Probably a lot less than I used to drink. Early 40s now and have had a recent normal LFT.