Do you drink too much?

[TiffToff88]

I'm currently watching "Drinkers Like Me - Adrian Chile's" on BBC2 and for me it's a real eye opener. 

 

I've been sat here totalling up how much I drink on a weekly basis and it's truly shocking. I'm 30 years old and I probably get through a bottle of whiskey and maybe 12-15 bottles of beer a week. And that's just what I drink in the evenings at home watching TV. Matchdays are a whole different ball game (excuse the pun). Apparently the recommended limit for an adult male is around 16 units a week (approximately 4-5 pints!)

 

As I write this, I'm on my 4th glass of whiskey for the evening. What is the definition of an alcoholic? I don't think I am one but I'm sure most alcoholics don't realise they have a problem. Although I don't feel the need to drink every night.

[Lcfcbisto]

2 minutes ago, TiffToff88 said:

I'm currently watching "Drinkers Like Me - Adrian Chile's" on BBC2 and for me it's a real eye opener. 

 

I've been sat here totalling up how much I drink on a weekly basis and it's truly shocking. I'm 30 years old and I probably get through a bottle of whiskey and maybe 12-15 bottles of beer a week. And that's just what I drink in the evenings at home watching TV. Matchdays are a whole different ball game (excuse the pun). Apparently the recommended limit for an adult male is around 16 units a week (approximately 4-5 pints!)

 

As I write this, I'm on my 4th glass of whiskey for the evening. What is the definition of an alcoholic? I don't think I am one but I'm sure most alcoholics don't realise they have a problem. Although I don't feel the need to drink every night.

My answer is yes. I have done for years. A few beers in the evening is a nice way to relax after work. it becomes an every night thing after a while, I like you don’t need a drink and can go without, but find myself drinking most nights due to habit. I’m 35 work full time in a great job but I find it easier to unwind with a beer 

[TiffToff88]

3 minutes ago, Lcfcbisto said:

My answer is yes. I have done for years. A few beers in the evening is a nice way to relax after work. it becomes an every night thing after a while, I like you don’t need a drink and can go without, but find myself drinking most nights due to habit. I’m 35 work full time in a great job but I find it easier to unwind with a beer 

Do you feel like you could just stop? I don't think I could. I don't drink to escape anything, I drink  because I like the taste and I enjoy the sort of blissed out light headed feeling that comes with it after a few drinks. 

 

Like I said I don't feel the need to drink every night but I still don't think I could just completely give up. It's a strange situation to be in

Edited 27 August 2018 by TiffToff88

[lifted*fox]

nah. maybe have one or two bottles of beer or maybe a glass of wine or gin & tonic a week.

never go out 'binge-drinking' either. for me it's about decent quality in small amounts.

went to a wedding the other weekend and had about 5 bottles of beer and a glass of wine. 

drinking to excess is a mugs game, really - terrible for your health, not even a decent buzz and hangovers are a joke. 

Edited 27 August 2018 by lifted*fox

[bovril]

I was thinking this myself after watching a clip from said show. I definitely used to drink too much. One of the problems was that I living abroad for ten years there were times when I was alone, bit bored and with access to plentiful and cheap alcohol. This was made worse by the fact my working hours were usually noon time til about 8pm, so I'd go straight to a restaurant or bar, drink all night then sleep it off. Even if I stayed at home I'd have a bottle of wine a night or a few bottles of beer. Not a scary amount, but enough to affect me negatively. I realised that it was making me irritable, forgetful and lazy. In general I like waking up early, going for hikes, visiting a town somewhere at the weekend, but after drinking I just couldn't be bothered. It wasn't that I was hungover, I was just slower. So I'd wake up late, laze about the house, get bored and then eat and drink. 

So about 18 months ago I decided to go some evenings without it after realising I couldn't remember the last day without booze I'd had. I felt like shit for the first two days which was actually a scary wake up call and so gradually decided to ween myself off it, limiting myself to two beers a weekend night then maybe one on a Wednesday or Thursday. Now I usually abstain during the week and have two or three pints down the pub with friends on a Saturday night. Sometimes I feel like a beer, but I don't miss it. I certainly don't miss the sluggishness that I barely realised I had until I gave up.

I have loads more energy now, do more stuff with my life, have more money etc. I wouldn't stop completely but cutting down has been much needed. If you are starting to think you drink too much then you almost certainly do, so I'd do something about it now.

[Lcfcbisto]

20 minutes ago, TiffToff88 said:

Do you feel like you could just stop? I don't think I could. I don't drink to escape anything, I drink  because I like the taste and I enjoy the sort of blissed out light headed feeling that comes with it after a few drinks. 

 

Like I said I don't feel the need to drink every night but I still don't think I could just completely give up. It's a strange situation to be in

Fully stop never drink again, no. But to be fair that’s because I don’t want to.

i never make an excuse for a having a drink, I like you just enjoy it. I don’t get drunk and I make sure it never gets in the way of my family life.

but yeah it’s an odd thing to get out of the habit

[Lcfcbisto]

19 minutes ago, lifted*fox said:

nah. maybe have one or two bottles of beer or maybe a glass of wine or gin & tonic a week.

never go out 'binge-drinking' either. for me it's about decent quality in small amounts.

went to a wedding the other weekend and had about 5 bottles of beer and a glass of wine. 

drinking to excess is a mugs game, really - terrible for your health, not even a decent buzz and hangovers are a joke. 

I disagree about the buzz, I enjoy a drink ( not getting hammered) and I don’t get hangovers. 

Reading some of your other post in the past you love to smoke, that’s never done anything for me. Guess everyone is different

[Kopic]

I used to drink what I felt was too much. I am a very fast drinker, so when out with friends I'd be starting my 3rd pint when they were finishing their first. Same at home, I'd get through 5 cans before I even realised, and then just keep drinking. It started when I was at uni, always find an excuse to drink every day, usually to excess, and no-one would judge or think badly of it. In fact I became quite the novelty for how fast I could drink or how well I could down pints and do shots. It continued after uni, only i'd sit at home and have a few beers for no reason what so ever, and be drunk every single night. In the end I made my self stop. It wasn't hard, so I don't think I was an alcoholic. I cut down by only having a drink after work (I work 3 days a week), before cutting down further to only drinking on special occasions. I did it mostly because I am not happy with my weight, when I was drinking every night I would go on to eat all the bad food in the house that night. Also my girlfriend doesn't drink at all and she was starting to get annoyed. I still do it occasionally (such as tonight, I have no reason to be drinking tonight but I'm on my fifth). But I am a lot more controlled than before.

This summer wasn't great though. When it's proper sunny out, I love sitting in the garden and having a beer. Only, this summer, I would start at mid day, and stop when I went to bed. Now the weather has turned shit I have reigned it in again. I'm trying to stop completely, but I have a lot of heavy drinkers in my family so it is hard. However I am happy in the fact I can stop when I want to, so I don't worry about it too much. Same with smoking, I have smoked for the last 5 years but if i run out or can't smoke, I don't even think about it.

[Strokes]

Yeah I probably do but I’m healthy in other areas so idgaf really. You can live your life by the guidelines and still drop dead early, so just enjoy the precious time you have, doing the things you enjoy doing.

Edited 28 August 2018 by Strokes

[urban.spaceman]

I will happily take any donations of Whisky from anyone who is stopping drinking.

Preferrably a single malt sherry cask.

Speyside.

Cheers.

[RODNEY FERNIO]

Think they just pluck these safe units a week figures from thin air .

 

[lifted*fox]

Or maybe they pluck them from scientific research. 

[Guest MattP]

Have recorded this, dreading watching it.

I must do 100+ units a week and I'm starting to feel like it.

[Jon the Hat]

Yeah I watched it.  I’m not on Chiles’ scale, but I drink probably 5 days a week a bottle to a bottle and a half of wine.  I’m going to stop drinking during the week as of now.

[TiffToff88]

6 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

Yeah I watched it.  I’m not on Chiles’ scale, but I drink probably 5 days a week a bottle to a bottle and a half of wine.  I’m going to stop drinking during the week as of now.

Same. Going to a beer festival on the Great Central Railway in the middle of next month. Might pack it all in until then. Just to prove to myself that I can.

Edited 27 August 2018 by TiffToff88

[shailen_patel4]

I usually drink 10 beers/ciders split between  Friday and Saturday (5 on each) and I have for the past year as I’m only 18 it is bad and I usually have a cigarette whilst i drink but I don’t like drinking throughout the week only on those 2 days and i can last a weekend without any drinks.

[Charl91]

Alcohol? Nah. I might have a pint every other week, if that. 

Now caffeine, almost certainly. I probably drink enough to kill a horse. 

[VLC86]

I make a conscious effort not to drink in the week now. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge drinker but I’ve found myself craving a drink more than I used to and temptation to get on the beer/gin in the week after a shit day at work is something I’m keen not to make a habit.

[The Syrup]

Im definitely a heavy drinker... probably do the 100 units a week that Chiles does. If I have a day off then I can't get to sleep. Takes a few days of no alcohol before I can get a decent kip. I even get random drug & alcohol tests at work and that doesn't stop me having a drink after work. Worst thing is I know I can stop, I only drink in the evening, its a habit I'm in. Once I have one drink then I'll drink for the rest of the evening,

[fuchsntf]

Like my father,I used to drink alot...my first 2 pints ,over any session over  the long weekend,went very quick.

but we never drank for the sake of it,or believed in targets. Taking the 60s and 70s pub and family life into account,

we didn't think too much of it,my father was very fit  born '1921' .I was a sport fanatic,training 4-5days a week,minimum

9 months a year. We both enjoyed shots,or even wine evenings,more into the 70s-80s.Though we both could go weeks,

without going out to drink...A sort of habit,that wasn't a must of our lives...

Besides old mates cliques, I was usually to be found in Rugby and Athletics cliques,no matter what class of people,from

Wc lass through to the nobs,everybody enjoyed a good session,wife banter but no nagging,with some taking their fair sip.

 

Mind you,my mam got angry with my dad,if he came home late on Sunday lunch,even if sober(I never seen my dad drunk),

Once,my mam asked him if he wanted dinner..my father in great expectation and sliver building up said yes please excitingly,

sitting down happily...then wumpf.my mam potting it over his head,after he was an hour late. A few yrs later,he dared to chase the clock

again...Walking through the door,and kitchen,asking if his dinner is ready....Calmly my mam said of course dear,giving him his knife and

Fork..then telling him his garden spade would be better,because his dinner is in the dustbin....

 

how life has changed,it's the kids who comes late,and the modern mums forgive them...mind you they often been on a Sunday lunch session

The Drink-culture,iin the UK in modern times,with media celebrities and even the so called decent middle class wives,seems to of become excessive,

and an uncontrolled habit. 

My children,all over 20 ,are not regular drinkers.Biergardens,parties but no drunken binges...

Though in their teens my older daughter and middle daughter,had some student binges.My son now 31 loves a drink,but has never

gone over the top,we've had some bevvy nights,but no wild drunkeness,even after 5-6 good German. Old style beers,or new craft beers.

 

I really don't know,but drink seems a British-problem...I've been to local Italian ,greek,Spanish  town fiestas,where Alcohol was not

found easily,and they danced and celebrated with all ages deep into early morning.Those same towns have wine festivals,but no

or very little aggressive drunkeness...No police flashing lights....

 

 

 

 

Edited 27 August 2018 by fuchsntf

[CosbehFox]

I’ll stick my hands up and say yeah they are times I drink far too much over a sustained period.

It’s got to a point now where I can tell the difference in mood and health now. This weekend I’ve had one pint and the effects have been feeling more awake/alive.

[Monk]

It’s an eye opener for me to see just how much people drink - incredible. I’ve always kept my intake low because of other health issues. I probably drink 0-2 nights a week and usually no more than 2 drinks. 

[Guest]

I'd prefer to give it up or at least reduce it down to 'occasional' drinking. I'm not addicted to it and many times I don't even like the taste of beer. The problem is that it's such a staple of social interactions. I tried giving it up recently just to get back in shape and it was nearly impossible as a few times a week people are wanting to go out for dinner or drinks. Can't imagine how much of a struggle it would be if you were an alcoholic.

 

Also have to say how active you are makes a big difference. When I was working in a factory it would be no problem to go out after work, drink 5 or 6 pints and have zero impact. Now that I work in an office sitting on my backside all day, a half pint of guinness could see me laid out on the floor singing irish rebel songs.

[Bellend Sebastian]

I've never been a massive drinker; a health issue in my late teens meant that I hardly drank at all at a time (this was the mid 90s) when everybody else was getting slaughtered constantly.

This was pretty disastrous socially, but longer term has been beneficial - seeing at close hand through sober eyes people around you having big problems with alcohol (which is probably easier to ignore when you're on the sauce in a big way too) has helped me to stop getting into that position where drinking unhealthy amounts of booze becomes the norm.

I love to have a drink, but the enforced restriction on how much I could have meant I can get a nice buzz off just a couple of pints; drinking four or more becomes quite an effort really

[leicsmac]

Uni and my first couple of years out in the Far East were the pretty typical alcohol-fests (would be going out on Friday night and having a couple of beers, several vodka cokes and a few shots to top it off and then doing it all again on Saturday night, as well as having a quiet one or two at home every weekday to take the edge off the day), but once I got into my early thirties my body started telling me in no uncertain terms to slow down (much more pronounced hangovers and the like), so I have. 

Now I'll occasionally have one or two on a weekday night, and even if I'm going out I'll not have more than four or five throughout the evening (and that doesn't happen often). I like to think that's about right for me - but as Strokes above says, you can adjust the risk factors but at the end of the day the rest is down to luck, so it's really a matter of personal choice.