How much do you drink, honestly?

[Bill]

FWIW, and in the spirit of the thread, I used to drink a bottle of red most nights, so 70+ a week.

These days I try to have 2 days off a week and limit myself to one glass a night. That's fine, but it's crept up as wine's so tasty... If I'm honest these days I'm having more than 3 bottles a week, plus some gin.

It doesn't seem much until you look at it properly...

[Phooey]

Did he mention how many years he's been drinking excessively?

[Polite M135 driver]

funinhounslow said:

I was surprised at the number of people advising him to "cut down" when the nature of alcohol is that if you have one you want another.

I watched the Adrian Chiles programme and I was absolutely fascinated, and astounded that someone could drink so much. Earlier in the evening I'd had small drink which is pretty unusual for me mid-week, but I enjoyed it.

But I thought this was an interesting point that you made. I disagree with it though.

I don't think the compulsion for 'one more' is in the nature of alcohol itself, I think it's in the drinker!

[deckster]

Polite M135 driver said:

I don't think the compulsion for 'one more' is in the nature of alcohol itself, I think it's in the drinker!

Perhaps so, but it's pretty universal amongst excessive drinkers and very common even for those who don't feel that they have a problem per se. I'm sure there are many people who can just have a glass every week or two, but if you've effectively structured your life around alcohol and you're used to starting early and not finishing until it's all gone, then it is much, much easier to not start, than to stop once you've got going.

[funinhounslow]

Polite M135 driver said:

I watched the Adrian Chiles programme and I was absolutely fascinated, and astounded that someone could drink so much. Earlier in the evening I'd had small drink which is pretty unusual for me mid-week, but I enjoyed it.

But I thought this was an interesting point that you made. I disagree with it though.

I don't think the compulsion for 'one more' is in the nature of alcohol itself, I think it's in the drinker!

Yes could be but I think "one's too many, ten's not enough" describes many people's relation with alcohol.

Just as some can't leave a pack of biscuits unfinished or drag themselves away from a slot machine. I suppose whatever it is that "flips your switch" then all common sense goes of the window...

[bad company]

I used to do about 60-70 units a week but cut down to 40 about 3 years ago. Possibly still too much but I do like the pub social scene.

In cutting down I also lost 1 1/2 stone in weight.

[TooMany2cvs]

funinhounslow said:

Yes could be but I think "one's too many, ten's not enough" describes many people's relation with alcohol.

Anybody who that does apply to is kinda the definition of an alcoholic.

[funinhounslow]

TooMany2cvs said:

funinhounslow said:

Yes could be but I think "one's too many, ten's not enough" describes many people's relation with alcohol.

Anybody who that does apply to is kinda the definition of an alcoholic.

I'm not sure the term "alcoholic" is that helpful. Is someone who doesn't drink through the week but goes on the lash every Friday an "alcoholic"? They probably drink less than the bloke who has a g&t when he gets home from work and/or a couple of glasses of wine with his tea...

[TooMany2cvs]

funinhounslow said:

TooMany2cvs said:

funinhounslow said:

Yes could be but I think "one's too many, ten's not enough" describes many people's relation with alcohol.

Anybody who that does apply to is kinda the definition of an alcoholic.

I'm not sure the term "alcoholic" is that helpful. Is someone who doesn't drink through the week but goes on the lash every Friday an "alcoholic"?

If "one is too many, but ten's not enough", when they're on the lash, then - yes... They just manage to control it by avoiding it the other six days.

[Phooey]

Phooey said:

Did he mention how many years he's been drinking excessively?

To answer my own question - (copied and pasted from internet)

Adrian Chiles has said he has had an alcoholic drink nearly every day since he was 15 years old.

Chiles, 51, wrote in The Sun newspaper: "I've been drinking for 36 years since I was 15, more or less every day."

Pretty amazing that he hasn't got full blown cirrhosis already

[TameRacingDriver]

Yet there's loads of people exactly like him that don't have cirrhosis which kind of suggests the risks are exaggerated.

People who were shocked or fascinated by his level of consumption have led pretty sheltered lives. This sort of thing is pretty common where I'm from.

[Bill]

TameRacingDriver said:

Yet there's loads of people exactly like him that don't have cirrhosis which kind of suggests the risks are exaggerated.

Are there? He had normal LFTs too, and most people wouldn't have the scan he did.

[ben5575]

TameRacingDriver said:

Yet there's loads of people exactly like him that don't have cirrhosis which kind of suggests the risks are exaggerated.

People who were shocked or fascinated by his level of consumption have led pretty sheltered lives. This sort of thing is pretty common where I'm from.

Or you could look at it the other way? One of the benefits of this thread is that it provides some context from people who aren't from where you're from; either geographically or socially. It's easier to deny if you keep to your own circles. Everyone does it so I'm alright jack.

Sorry that's a general point prompted by your post TDR and wasn't aimed at you personally.

[deckster]

TameRacingDriver said:

Yet there's loads of people exactly like him that don't have cirrhosis which kind of suggests the risks are exaggerated.

People who were shocked or fascinated by his level of consumption have led pretty sheltered lives. This sort of thing is pretty common where I'm from.

So because you know some people who drink loads and aren't dead yet, you can confidently dismiss the reams and reams of serious scientific research that has concluded that excessive drinking is a serious health risk as being 'exaggerated'?

As I've said before, everybody is free to drink as much as they like and good luck to them; but please - please - don't bury your head in the sand and pretend that actually it's all fine because it's 'common where I'm from'. Excessive drinking is bad for you. Drinking 100 units a week is not normal and it certainly isn't something to be proud of.

[TooMany2cvs]

TameRacingDriver said:

Yet there's loads of people exactly like him that don't have cirrhosis

...yet.

Some may never get it - perhaps they'll die of other things first. Perhaps they're lucky enough to have a genetic wriggle that makes them less susceptible.

Same as lung cancer and smoking.

[super7]

I find myself seeing many similarities with Adrian Chiles..... I've also had issues with Anxiety, Depression and drinking 100 units a week. As a reasonably high earner I have no problems justifying the cost.... in fact the cost doesn't even come into it. £150 on a session is a good night out. I've had tab's behind the bar reaching £800 a month. I think it's fair to say, I also don't have an off switch and I've had high LFT readings which made me stop until it came down.

What is shocking is how quickly the points add up. 5pts on a firday evening is over 10units. A bottle of wine when your home and your knocking on 25units. Do that Friday/Sat/Sun and a few pints / glass's of wine / bottles of beer during the week and thats 100units... and none of that really get's you pissed!

I now only drink on Fri/Sat/Sun. I don't drink the rest of the week. Going forward I will also only take cash to the pub and pay as I go rather than stick it on a tab and pay with a card at the end. In fact the card stays at home! Once leaving the pub, that's it. No more drinking at home when I get in.

I know i'm going to bust the 14unit limit (which was actually 21units only 2 years ago and as it still is in many other countries!) but life on 14units a week, is very booring!

What also surprises me, is that the margin on non-alcoholic drinks is greater than alcoholic. Why is the emphasis in a pub on booze. There's no duty on a bottle of Stowford LA, and yet you can't buy it in a pub! Priced a bit cheaper than a bottle of normal Stowford, there's more money to be made..... There is no real profit in Beer either but if you drop the % alcohol you can drop a pint into a lower duty level and make more on the margin?

[okgo]

I'd been told to recently log mine to see if I could cut down, but for a couple of weeks just do whatever came natrually, the result was fairly surprising I suppose, should probably try and kill the midweek stuff but its not easy if people are out...

14th - 2 pints
15th - 5 pints
16th - 5 pints
17th - 6 pints , half bottle, 2 negroni
18th - 3 pints, 4 prosecco, bottle of wine, g&t
19th - 1 pint
20th - 1 bottle beer
21st - one small glass wine
22nd - 7 pints, 1 gin, two small wine
23rd - 4.5 pints, 1 gin, one shot patron, 1 espresso martini, half bottle wine
24th - 6 pints, half bottle wine, 1 g&t
25th - 1 beer btl, 3rd btl wine, 1 pint
26th - 4 pints, 1 wine glass
27th - 1 pint

[Campagnolo12speed]

okgo said:

I'd been told to recently log mine to see if I could cut down, but for a couple of weeks just do whatever came natrually, the result was fairly surprising I suppose, should probably try and kill the midweek stuff but its not easy if people are out...

14th - 2 pints
15th - 5 pints
16th - 5 pints
17th - 6 pints , half bottle, 2 negroni
18th - 3 pints, 4 prosecco, bottle of wine, g&t
19th - 1 pint
20th - 1 bottle beer
21st - one small glass wine
22nd - 7 pints, 1 gin, two small wine
23rd - 4.5 pints, 1 gin, one shot patron, 1 espresso martini, half bottle wine
24th - 6 pints, half bottle wine, 1 g&t
25th - 1 beer btl, 3rd btl wine, 1 pint
26th - 4 pints, 1 wine glass
27th - 1 pint

Get back on the bike and you won't have so much time on your hands!

[TameRacingDriver]

deckster said:

So because you know some people who drink loads and aren't dead yet, you can confidently dismiss the reams and reams of serious scientific research that has concluded that excessive drinking is a serious health risk as being 'exaggerated'?

As I've said before, everybody is free to drink as much as they like and good luck to them; but please - please - don't bury your head in the sand and pretend that actually it's all fine because it's 'common where I'm from'. Excessive drinking is bad for you. Drinking 100 units a week is not normal and it certainly isn't something to be proud of.

I never said it was anything to be proud of, just that it’s not unusual, and in fact, there are millions of old men across the country who are still caning it and no, they aren’t dead yet. Their quality of life may be poor (or it may not). The risks are being exaggerated in some quarters (i.e. NO SAFE LIMIT), sure you cannot deny that.

I ain’t burying my hand in anything pal, if anything, I’ve been as honest as one can possibly be on this thread. I actually acknowledge that my drinking has become a problem FOR ME. However, I am not about to come over all preachy either and join in the scaremongering brigade. I dare say deep down that any individual who is concerned knows fine well whether they need to cut down or give up, however, some people don’t seem to get any major ill effects off it either.

It’s pretty obvious drink is being demonised in the same way as any ‘risky’ activity. The end game is clearly for people to take no risks whatsoever in their life and be good little worker drones that continue to pay their tax. It would be ideal if they couldn’t claim their pension though, but I’m sure that can be arranged...

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Tuesday 28th August 16:17

[227bhp]

okgo said:

I'd been told to recently log mine to see if I could cut down, but for a couple of weeks just do whatever came natrually, the result was fairly surprising I suppose, should probably try and kill the midweek stuff but its not easy if people are out...

14th - 2 pints
15th - 5 pints
16th - 5 pints
17th - 6 pints , half bottle, 2 negroni
18th - 3 pints, 4 prosecco, bottle of wine, g&t
19th - 1 pint
20th - 1 bottle beer
21st - one small glass wine
22nd - 7 pints, 1 gin, two small wine
23rd - 4.5 pints, 1 gin, one shot patron, 1 espresso martini, half bottle wine
24th - 6 pints, half bottle wine, 1 g&t
25th - 1 beer btl, 3rd btl wine, 1 pint
26th - 4 pints, 1 wine glass
27th - 1 pint

Do you think you're an alcoholic?

---

I think it's a label like 'obese' which we'll debate for evermore until someone says "Do we really need this term?"