Do you drink too much?

[Captain...]

Reading this thread makes me want a beer

I don't have the healthiest relationship with  alcohol, but it is better than it used to be. It is still my go to stress reliever but now it will be a beer or 2 rather than buying a 2 x 4 packs because they are on offer and then drinking most of them. A Wedding, a day at the cricket or darts or holiday with uni friends is often still 10-15 pints a day, but that is not as often as it used to be. Going for a drink is usually 4-6 pints of an evening, and a couple of beers on a friday night in and with Match of the Day. It is still not a healthy amount but I regularly do a dry month and make an effort to limit my drinking.

I am a little concerned about the long term damage of my twenties the dangers of working in a pub and having different groups of friends all heavy drinkers meant that I was never short of a drinking buddy, and very easily persuaded. I can also relate to Bovril, living and working in Spain, I would finish about 9 every evening, often with a lie in the next day, plenty of cheap alcohol (3 euros for 12 small cans, 70 cents for a drinkable bottle of wine, numerous street parties and festival days and pubs//bars that just never shut.

Recipe for liver failure.

[Footballwipe]

Must admit I hadn't heard of this but will definitely seek it out. I was such a prude at uni, everyone getting smashed and there I was not touching anything. Look back now and it was ridiculous.

My drink intake has increased dramatically in the last couple of years, something which I enjoy doing. I think my slight frame helps though, I feel terrible after anything more than four pints really, so tend not to bother getting leathered and if I do I have to hit the spirits up.

Must admit it is interesting reading accounts of people and their drinking habits. I know it's not considered 'manly' not to be able to drink 10-15 pints in a session, but reading accounts of those who do is an eye opener!

Edited 28 August 2018 by Footballwipe

[FoxNotFox]

I don't drink a lot but I reckon it's too much now. I'm not referring to recent 'any amount is too much' reports either, in fact I'm not referring to any reports. I just reckon I drink too much for me, my state of mind or whatever rather than liver damage etc. In my younger days I was a bigger drinker, but a social drinker; match days, sports events, parties, pubs of a evening etc. The thought of not drinking didn't happen and I didn't have a problem with it... except maybe the day after!

Recently, I've noted that I prefer my mental state after I've had a couple of glasses of wine (or whatever). That's worrying. I don't want to walk down the line of needing a drink to relax or cheer-up. I don't want drink to become an escapism. It's a shame because I remember getting drunk with great fondness, it's almost something that's now I have to treat as part of my past. 

[ScouseFox]

probably not much anymore. days off i’ll absolutely go for it but not much on days i’m in work and just coming home to have tea and watch tele. 

 

the world cup was outrageous though but it had to be, really. 

[cambridgefox]

Never really discussed this before on here.

my late dad was one of the nicest people you could know.Had a fantastic job and employed a lot of local people.Because of my “ different “ name even now people will say” Are you related to ..... what a fantastic boss,lovely kind bloke”etc and he was.

He was lucky enough to retire when he was 50.

Thats when the problems started.

His hours were so long,that even on weekends he would be up working when I crawled in at 4am

Going from doing everything,to nothing boredom and Whiskey kicked in.

He was never violent or aggressive to my mum but a hopeless drunk( at home) he turned into a pathetic,feeble man that none of us really knew anymore.All he worried about was his next drink.i used to go round there shouting the odds and watching him deny it,and if I went near a bottle and threaten to pour it away he would be pleading me not to.It was heartbreaking.

This Bit is hard.There were times when I wanted him to die from it ,as it wasn’t my dad anymore ,my mum,god knows how she stuck by him was feeling the pressure.The whole family were,and thought it easier and better if he just wasn’t there.What a thing to say about your own dad,but things were so bad and he was like a stranger to us we just wanted him to ease our pressure and pain by drinking himself to an early grave.

We tried to help him,but it was useless.Denial.accusing us of all sorts of lies against him.

 

if we had a family do ,or gathering we would dread it and I remember him being pissed before some dos.Absolute embarrassing nightmare.Not just pissed like at a wedding pissed.Paraletic falling on tables.

Then one day,probably about 8 years later he had had enough himself and went to rehab.

Although it took time,I got my old dad back.Someone who was a pleasure to be around,someone that you Then thought,how could I have ever wished him dead.

He battled,and I never saw him touch a drop again and that’s what made me so proud of him.

You just know he hadn’t drank.It was all or nothing.

He accepted he had a problem and dealt with it.

Became a better,more caring man than ever before.

 

He died when he was 66 of cancer and we were lucky he retired early,but sad that he had ruined 8 years of his life ,and when he finally had the chance to enjoy his retirement  and given a 2nd chance he was taken ill.He should have been dead years ago the amount he drank.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I don’t drink much anymore and I will only drink G&Ts in the spirit camp.

Bit difficult that!

 

 

[Izzy]

12 hours 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.

I always used to think that the definition of an alcoholic was someone who woke up and immediately reached for the Gin bottle.

I guess what's being discussed on here is people's 'dependency' on alcohol. In the past I was certainly dependent on it every day and there was a stage where I went years without a 'dry day'. It was very much a habit to stop off on the way home after work every day and buy a four back of Boddington's, a bottle of wine and a take away and demolish it all before bed time. Then weekends were just one long piss up so I imagine I was way over the 100+ units some are talking about.

Then I got really ill. Not sure if alcohol was the cause, but I'm pretty sure it was a contributing factor along with stress and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Like some on here I have an addictive personality and lead an 'all or nothing' kind of life. I went back on the booze on and off for years after my illness but got to the stage last October where I knocked it on the head completely and it was the best thing I ever did.

The benefits are obvious so I won't preach, but it's taken quite an effort to adjust socially to now being tee total. The 'habit' of drinking has now been replaced with the habit of going to the gym, so that's kind of filled the hole I suppose.

I still miss having the odd drink but I know as soon as I have one I'll be back on it and addicted again (just like smoking). I can't have it in the house as I know I'll get tempted and I just avoid the booze isle when shopping now.

If you're the type of person who can be in control of alcohol and not have it control you, then fair play. Like Strokes says, we could be hit by a bus tomorrow so we need to enjoy life and if alcohol helps people enjoy life without them becoming addicted to it or it damaging their health, then happy days.

"Everything in moderation" as my old Gran used to say..

[Dr Marco]

 

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Yes, probably far too much. I used to go out regularly and drink a lot at weekends, have grown out of that scene now but feel I definitely drink too much at home, its become a habit to drink in front of any football matches on the telly, and any film that's on. The worst thing is that when I drink less I enjoy it more anyway but any amount of stress gets me straight back on the drink....

[Crinklyfox]

I drink very little now.  In my youth it was quite normal for me to have four pints on an evening and occasionally a lot more.  There was little or no guidance regarding units and safe limits that I was aware of.

The first time I woke up to the consequences of excessive drinking was when I was doing holiday work while at uni.  I was asked to take over a job from a lad who was 'off sick' for a few days.  When he returned to work we worked together for a few days.  I was 21 and he was 23 but he looked a lot older.  His skin had that yellow pallor that I now associate with liver problems.  We got to talking about his illness and his said that it was drink related.  I asked him how much he drank, he said that on weekdays he regularly had 8 pints a night but 'went for a drink' on Friday and Saturday when he had 23 - 24 pints per evening.  I looked at him and the damage that had been done and suddenly felt a lot less invulnerable than you tend to feel at that age.  I watched my drinking from then on and never let it get out of hand.

[FoxNotFox]

42 minutes ago, cambridgefox said:

This Bit is hard.

And it was incredibly brave of you to say what you did. So well done you for taking the plunge. I don't think anyone could fault you for having the thoughts you did, nor your reaction to them. They sound like incredibly tough and emotional times, and who of us honestly knows how we'd respond to such things. At least it wasn't your dad's lasting legacy - he sounds like he was a determined guy, much to be admired. 

[Captain...]

56 minutes ago, cambridgefox said:

Thats when the problems started.

His hours were so long,that even on weekends he would be up working when I crawled in at 4am

Going from doing everything,to nothing boredom and Whiskey kicked in.

Thanks for sharing CF, it is interesting just how linked such behaviour is, you don't class being a workaholic as an illness because it isn't necessarily detrimental to your health and well being but obviously there is a certain personality type that needs to be consumed by something. It is no surprise that footballers get caught up on gambling and drinking especially post footballing career.

[stripeyfox]

I drink more than I should. Pretty much every night maybe 4 - 5 cans of beer and if the missus is having a drink as well then 1/2 bottle of win maybe 3 nights a week.

Wouldn't class myself as an "alcoholic" but I guess even the most addicted alcoholics don't start off like that - it's the pattern of drinking every night. I'm aware it's a problem and I need to do something about it....

 

[RoboFox]

Yes, and I'm aware of it. 

I make a point of not drinking if I have work the next day, which means Sunday-Thursday I abstain completely, and during the week I'm active, I go to the gym every day and I generally eat very well. 

However, because I do this, the weekends more often than not are an absolute blow out. I live in London, I have a very active social circle and my friendship group has a similar ethos: work hard, play hard. 

I always like a beer with the football too, so this usually means if I've had a heavy Friday, I'm back on it by 3pm Saturday and by the end of the night I'll have more than likely got through an awful lot of beer and scotch. I've built up quite the tolerance over the years.

I'm in my early 30s now, and the hangovers are getting worse and Mondays are generally a bit more of a struggle than they should be. It's something I've thought about a lot recently: trying to cut down and not spend my entire weekends blotto.

[Izzy]

For those of you thinking about making a change (cutting down or stopping) just remember that you'll only do it if you have a big enough reason to.

As humans we're always trying to avoid pain or gain pleasure. If there's not strong enough pain to be avoided (physically, emotionally, financially etc.) then we won't change.

If there's not strong enough pleasure to be gained by stopping (increased health, more money etc.) then we won't change.

If neither motivator is strong enough then we'll keep doing what we're doing. We are creatures of habit.

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Probably about 2-3 pints on average a week, I can't deal with hangovers. Two or three times a year I'll really go for it and smash 10+ pints and a mix of other drinks, make a total arse of myself and have a 2 day hangover, and remember why I don't usually get drunk

[Fox92]

12 minutes ago, Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo said:

Probably about 2-3 pints on average a week, I can't deal with hangovers. Two or three times a year I'll really go for it and smash 10+ pints and a mix of other drinks, make a total arse of myself and have a 2 day hangover, and remember why I don't usually get drunk

This is probably the exact same as me

I don't drink during the week. When I get in from work the last thing on my mind is to have alcohol. I have one/two pints on a Saturday at the football and then one at home watching MOTD. Never really been a big drinker, not that I'm bothered about that.

[Babylon]

The drinking at home thing seems to be becoming a problem in this country, not just obvious from this thread but discussing drinking habits with friends and seeing the amount of bottles and cans left out for recycling. I don't drink at home at all really, except for a few beers over the year that I can count on one hand. It's alien to me when people say they batter a couple of bottles of gin / voda / whiskey etc, on top of beer and wine during the week. The long term health affects must be horrendous.

 

[Dr Marco]

I drink in the evening, it helps with relaxing, I can't sleep without drinking

We drink together

 

 

[spacemunky]

I use to. Quit in February.

Now I just take pills 

[Max Wall]

3 minutes ago, spacemunky said:

I use to. Quit in February.

Now I just take pills 

Holsten?

[Samilktray]

I drink a couple of beers every other week. Couldn't drink too much because craft beer is too expensive & I've become a bit of a beer snob, and I generally don't like being drunk or hungover. 

[HighPeakFox]

I've never drunk in any sort of sustained way - the odd glass of wine or single malt. Being drunk on beer is a horrible sensation that I don't enjoy - being accidentally drunk on decent wine is fine for me, but not something I ever set out to do.

Drinking is a huge part of our identity as a nation, I think, and there's a fair amount of machismo that goes with it that I'm not comfortable with. There is a difference between a habitual heavy/regular drinker and an alcoholic, but that said, there are various guises to being an addict - we've dicussed this in the Gambling thread, and I think there's crossover within all addictions.

I have a friend whose mother was an alcoholic - she died recently. He gets very cross when anyone suggests there is more than one way of being an alcoholic - he thinks it's only the medically addicted who count. He doesn't listen to anyone much, but he's wrong about it.

[Manwell Pablo]

2 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

I always used to think that the definition of an alcoholic was someone who woke up and immediately reached for the Gin bottle.

I guess what's being discussed on here is people's 'dependency' on alcohol. In the past I was certainly dependent on it every day and there was a stage where I went years without a 'dry day'. It was very much a habit to stop off on the way home after work every day and buy a four back of Boddington's, a bottle of wine and a take away and demolish it all before bed time. Then weekends were just one long piss up so I imagine I was way over the 100+ units some are talking about.

Then I got really ill. Not sure if alcohol was the cause, but I'm pretty sure it was a contributing factor along with stress and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Like some on here I have an addictive personality and lead an 'all or nothing' kind of life. I went back on the booze on and off for years after my illness but got to the stage last October where I knocked it on the head completely and it was the best thing I ever did.

The benefits are obvious so I won't preach, but it's taken quite an effort to adjust socially to now being tee total. The 'habit' of drinking has now been replaced with the habit of going to the gym, so that's kind of filled the hole I suppose.

I still miss having the odd drink but I know as soon as I have one I'll be back on it and addicted again (just like smoking). I can't have it in the house as I know I'll get tempted and I just avoid the booze isle when shopping now.

If you're the type of person who can be in control of alcohol and not have it control you, then fair play. Like Strokes says, we could be hit by a bus tomorrow so we need to enjoy life and if alcohol helps people enjoy life without them becoming addicted to it or it damaging their health, then happy days.

"Everything in moderation" as my old Gran used to say..

 

Yeah, most people my age think the same thing (me included) of course it's not really as simple as that. Thankfully I think kids these days are taught a bit more about it.

 

[Crinklyfox]

1 hour ago, stripeyfox said:

I drink more than I should. Pretty much every night maybe 4 - 5 cans of beer and if the missus is having a drink as well then 1/2 bottle of win maybe 3 nights a week.

Wouldn't class myself as an "alcoholic" but I guess even the most addicted alcoholics don't start off like that - it's the pattern of drinking every night. I'm aware it's a problem and I need to do something about it....

 

It's great if anyone can recognise that they are drinking too much but as Izzy said you have to have the motivation to change it.

A close friend of my wife became an alcoholic.  She didn't drink any serious quantity of booze until she was in her fifties but then started and it got worse and worse.  She hid the drinking from her family but it took over her life - she was lying to her husband and her children (not to mention her friends) about the drinking but we could all see her deteriorating.  She either lied to herself about the potential outcome or ignored it.  She had falls at home because of the drink, claiming to have had accidents, and her ability to care for herself deteriorated.  She relied on her family to look after the house and feed her.  Her focus on the drink alone came, I believe, close to obsessive and she alienated herself from her family, literally it was difficult to recognise the person she had become from the person she was.  She has been in hospital and rehab, neither of which stopped her craving for alcohol, and she is now in a care home having terribly mentally deteriorated.

For pity's sake don't let this happen to any of you who may be drinking too much.

[Captain...]

1 hour ago, Babylon said:

The drinking at home thing seems to be becoming a problem in this country, not just obvious from this thread but discussing drinking habits with friends and seeing the amount of bottles and cans left out for recycling. I don't drink at home at all really, except for a few beers over the year that I can count on one hand. It's alien to me when people say they batter a couple of bottles of gin / voda / whiskey etc, on top of beer and wine during the week. The long term health affects must be horrendous.

 

Do you live on your own?

I drink at home quite often sometime a bottle of wine with dinner, or just to unwind and watch tv with the missus, but very rarely on my own, that seems weird. The exception is if I'm online gaming with friends, even though I'm physically on my own I see it as a social activity so normal to drink, but I wouldn't crack open a beer to talk to someone on the phone.

Edited 28 August 2018 by Captain...