Do you think I’m an alcoholic?

[Anonymous]

I would like to point out, and this point is relevant in this thread and in others where folks discuss dry January or other related conversations about rate of alcohol use:

Most people who drink 'one' drink per day at home are not, in fact, consuming only one unit of alcohol. Perhaps yes if they drink a bottled beer or bottled hard cider. But most people who drink wine and spirits in mixed drinks or even neat do not measure their units of alcohol to match the units being considered by health professionals when giving guidance on usage.

I've spend a lot of years around drinkers. Very, very rarely ever seen a wine drinker's single glass of wine being an actual single unit of wine, much more likely one glass a day wine drinkers are actually drinking two units of wine every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to point out, and this point is relevant in this thread and in others where folks discuss dry January or other related conversations about rate of alcohol use:

Most people who drink 'one' drink per day at home are not, in fact, consuming only one unit of alcohol. Perhaps yes if they drink a bottled beer or bottled hard cider. But most people who drink wine and spirits in mixed drinks or even neat do not measure their units of alcohol to match the units being considered by health professionals when giving guidance on usage.

I've spend a lot of years around drinkers. Very, very rarely ever seen a wine drinker's single glass of wine being an actual single unit of wine, much more likely one glass a day wine drinkers are actually drinking two units of wine every day.

You sure are paying a lot of attention to what others drink. You sound like a dry drunk yourself.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why you need to have a drink with your friend when she’s in town. Can’t you just meet her and not drink?

[Anonymous]

Echoing what many others have already said - No you don't sound like an alcoholic to me, at all. However what you're doing with one drink a day is really unhealthy so stopping would be nothing but beneficial for you. Your DH's comments were likely out of concern for your health but he expressed it using the word "alcoholic" instead as it really underlined and bolded his fear of what it's doing to your overall health. You don't need to go cold turkey but dry January is a good start, then drop to one drink a week, if that. Believe me you don't "need" it in order to have a good time or to relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prove him wrong and no drink.

This. Give it 30 days without one drink. If you can do it, you're not an alcoholic.

This is wrong. 15 years age my brother almost drank himself to death at 40, and then stopped when he miraculously recovered instead of dying. He hasn't touched it since. But he is, and will always be, an alcoholic.

Whoa Whoa WHOA! What OP is doing is NOT "drinking herself to death" Can you not read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you need to have a drink with your friend when she’s in town. Can’t you just meet her and not drink?

Agree. I went out with friends this weekend and chose to not drink because I wasn’t feeling it. I still had a good time. It’s not a requirement for going out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to point out, and this point is relevant in this thread and in others where folks discuss dry January or other related conversations about rate of alcohol use:

Most people who drink 'one' drink per day at home are not, in fact, consuming only one unit of alcohol. Perhaps yes if they drink a bottled beer or bottled hard cider. But most people who drink wine and spirits in mixed drinks or even neat do not measure their units of alcohol to match the units being considered by health professionals when giving guidance on usage.

I've spend a lot of years around drinkers. Very, very rarely ever seen a wine drinker's single glass of wine being an actual single unit of wine, much more likely one glass a day wine drinkers are actually drinking two units of wine every day.

You sure are paying a lot of attention to what others drink. You sound like a dry drunk yourself.

Former bartender, so it is an occupational hazard to notice drinking consumption and level of intoxication - and of course I am much better than the average Joe or Jody at eyeballing units of alcohol. Most of y'all who think you are on the low end of the guidelines are probably consuming 2x or more as much as you think you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prove him wrong and no drink.

This. Give it 30 days without one drink. If you can do it, you're not an alcoholic.

This is wrong. 15 years age my brother almost drank himself to death at 40, and then stopped when he miraculously recovered instead of dying. He hasn't touched it since. But he is, and will always be, an alcoholic.

Whoa Whoa WHOA! What OP is doing is NOT "drinking herself to death" Can you not read?

Can YOU not read? The poster was replying to another poster who wrongly asserted that the capacity to engage in 30 days abstinence from alcohol proves that one is not an alcoholic. That is simply untrue, and poster used the example of their clearly alcoholic brother's years of abstinence as an example.

You're struggling with reading comprehension or overreacting.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't know whether you are an alcoholic or not and frankly, the opinion of DCUM is not relevant. Your husband, who lives with you and loves you, expressed concern. I would take that to heart and reconsider your drinking habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to point out, and this point is relevant in this thread and in others where folks discuss dry January or other related conversations about rate of alcohol use:

Most people who drink 'one' drink per day at home are not, in fact, consuming only one unit of alcohol. Perhaps yes if they drink a bottled beer or bottled hard cider. But most people who drink wine and spirits in mixed drinks or even neat do not measure their units of alcohol to match the units being considered by health professionals when giving guidance on usage.

I've spend a lot of years around drinkers. Very, very rarely ever seen a wine drinker's single glass of wine being an actual single unit of wine, much more likely one glass a day wine drinkers are actually drinking two units of wine every day.

You sure are paying a lot of attention to what others drink. You sound like a dry drunk yourself.

NP. What? I think it's a fair comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you letting your husband police your relationship with alcohol? Tell him to STFU.

Lemme guess....you're in a satisfying, happy, loving marriage? Just kidding, people who are never speaking to or about their spouse this way. My spouse has a profound impact on my life and me on his. That's actually how healthy longterm marriages (and relationships in general) work. Sad you don't experience that.

OP - dry is dry. Just prove it to yourself and him that everything is fine.

Why does she have to prove to him that she can break a completely innocent habit? Why do you have to prove yourself to your husband? That doesn't sound healthy to me.

Exactly. I'd probably order the drink out with my friend just to prove I make my own decisions about what I'd like to dirnk. OP's husband doesn't need to micromanage her 1 drink or her time with a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prove him wrong and no drink.

This. Give it 30 days without one drink. If you can do it, you're not an alcoholic.

This is wrong. 15 years age my brother almost drank himself to death at 40, and then stopped when he miraculously recovered instead of dying. He hasn't touched it since. But he is, and will always be, an alcoholic.

Whoa Whoa WHOA! What OP is doing is NOT "drinking herself to death" Can you not read?

Can YOU not read? The poster was replying to another poster who wrongly asserted that the capacity to engage in 30 days abstinence from alcohol proves that one is not an alcoholic. That is simply untrue, and poster used the example of their clearly alcoholic brother's years of abstinence as an example.

You're struggling with reading comprehension or overreacting.

My error, not a reading comprehension issue. I simply didn't expand the previous discussion assuming they were replying directly to OP. My apologies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to point out, and this point is relevant in this thread and in others where folks discuss dry January or other related conversations about rate of alcohol use:

Most people who drink 'one' drink per day at home are not, in fact, consuming only one unit of alcohol. Perhaps yes if they drink a bottled beer or bottled hard cider. But most people who drink wine and spirits in mixed drinks or even neat do not measure their units of alcohol to match the units being considered by health professionals when giving guidance on usage.

I've spend a lot of years around drinkers. Very, very rarely ever seen a wine drinker's single glass of wine being an actual single unit of wine, much more likely one glass a day wine drinkers are actually drinking two units of wine every day.

You sure are paying a lot of attention to what others drink. You sound like a dry drunk yourself.

Former bartender, so it is an occupational hazard to notice drinking consumption and level of intoxication - and of course I am much better than the average Joe or Jody at eyeballing units of alcohol. Most of y'all who think you are on the low end of the guidelines are probably consuming 2x or more as much as you think you are.

I believe this to be 100% accurate. My drink is usually 3-4 oz. Someone else using the same tumbler will consume 6 oz, and still call it "one drink".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to point out, and this point is relevant in this thread and in others where folks discuss dry January or other related conversations about rate of alcohol use:

Most people who drink 'one' drink per day at home are not, in fact, consuming only one unit of alcohol. Perhaps yes if they drink a bottled beer or bottled hard cider. But most people who drink wine and spirits in mixed drinks or even neat do not measure their units of alcohol to match the units being considered by health professionals when giving guidance on usage.

I've spend a lot of years around drinkers. Very, very rarely ever seen a wine drinker's single glass of wine being an actual single unit of wine, much more likely one glass a day wine drinkers are actually drinking two units of wine every day.

You sure are paying a lot of attention to what others drink. You sound like a dry drunk yourself.

NP. What? I think it's a fair comment.

No, monitoring other people’s consumption of anything is strange. Eyes on your own glass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest reading “quit like a woman” and see what you think after that. Fascinating book and it’s also funny. while on paper, one drink a day may not seem like an issue, I would take a look at your relationship with alcohol, how it feels if you can’t have it one day, are you thinking about what time you’re going to have it each day, and even how you’re feeling meeting with a friend and feeling like you want or need (don’t want put words in your mouth) to have one. Our culture thinks going out to dinner or meeting up with a friend means drinks but it really doesn’t have to. I drink but I have significantly reduced and changed my relationship with alcohol.

Based on an inexpert book that you read and fell for hook, line and sinker.