A 12 pack a week

[Anonymous]

My husband drinks a 12 pack of beer a week. I should say a weekend because he only drinks on the weekends (Friday night to Sunday night). It seems like a lot to me. He is healthy, eats well, exercises 4 nights a week. It just seems like the older we get that 12 beers a week will catch up. He doesn't get super drunk, but he also drinks beers like double IPAs, Belgium, Imperial Stouts so we're are talking 10% alcohol beers which makes it seem worse. Does anyone else have husband's that drink this much and should I be concerned? When I brink my concerns he says he will cut back if it starts hurting his health or causing weight gain.

[Anonymous]

Over the course of a week that's not bad at all. Over three days that's 4 per day which is a bit too much. I'd express my concern as being weight related which men can accept and deal with versus you're drinking too much.

[Anonymous]

Yes, a 12 pack is way to much on a regular basis, especially beer that high in alcohol content. You won’t find a single doctor who’s ok with his drinking situation. Most alcoholic’s or people with alcohol related medical issues all started out in a similar way of denial.

[Anonymous]

I’d have less of a problem if it’s light beer.

[Anonymous]

I mean, this really doesn’t sound like a problem.

Are you just worried he will get fat when he is older or is he actually having a problem?

I just think trying to restrict a behavior that currently isn’t causing a problem can breed resentment over time.

[Anonymous]

Also, how big is your husband? If he’s 6 ft 5 and 200+ lbs, that’s different than if he’s 5’8 and 165.

[Anonymous]

Mine drinks like that when he's out with friends. ie, if we go to a bbq, he can easily put away a 12 pack over the course of the afternoon. He's been this way as long as I've known him.

He's 6' and 250lb. He has a huge beer belly. Other than that, his annual physical exams indicate no harm. He doesn't drive home from the events but he's a fully functioning parent and adult after the beverages. There are times when he is able to function better than I can and I don't drink.

So, medically, there is nothing wrong with my DH. From a relationship standpoint, he's holding his own w.r.t me and the kids. I may not agree with it, but I don't have much to stand on so I leave it alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
He's 6' and 250lb. He has a huge beer belly. Other than that, his annual physical exams indicate no harm. He doesn't drive home from the events but he's a fully functioning parent and adult after the beverages. There are times when he is able to function better than I can and I don't drink.

So, medically, there is nothing wrong with my DH.

The gut is going to hasten his death.

OP, 4 beers a night is a lot. IPAs are more like 5-7% alcohol than 10%, but it's still a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, a 12 pack is way to much on a regular basis, especially beer that high in alcohol content. You won’t find a single doctor who’s ok with his drinking situation. Most alcoholic’s or people with alcohol related medical issues all started out in a similar way of denial.

Doctor here. You’ve met me!
I teach my medical students that talking about addiction is more about the problems the drug is causing in someone’s life than it is about the amount they are using. What I would want to know is if he is missing work, missing out on responsibility around the house, OP is beggging him to quit or has threatened divorce, he has gotten a DUI, put the kids in danger because he was intoxicated, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d have less of a problem if it’s light beer.

I do that easily every week, but with light beer. Just turned 50, exercise 6 days a week and am in great shape. I don't see it as a big deal

[Anonymous]

4 on Friday night, 4 on Saturday night, and a couple in the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday doesn't strike me as egregious.

One potential red flag I see, though, is him not drinking at all during the week. That could be a sign that he doesn't view himself as having a good relationship with alcohol. If he had one or two on a random weekday night, it would suggest that he isn't drinking to get intoxicated, but just because he happens to want a beer.

[Anonymous]

10:52 - I know plenty of folks who generally don't drink on "school nights". They have to get up too early and be productive, so they save the drinking for when they don't have to be up at 5 or whatever. Makes sense to me. I try to go easy during the week too, because my wake-up time is so early and I'm going-going-going all day. I'll let loose on a Friday or Saturday night off, and stay out a bit later if my schedule the next day allows me to get a decent night's sleep.

[Anonymous]

It's not OK for anyone to drink this way, and you all know it. We're talking about long-term health issues.

[Anonymous]

Drinking 12 beers, no water, over the weekend is a weekend alcoholic. And no, I do not believe that all of these people aren't driving the entire weekend.

So what you are saying is that everyone who commented that they do this never drives on the weekend.

Get real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:52 - I know plenty of folks who generally don't drink on "school nights". They have to get up too early and be productive, so they save the drinking for when they don't have to be up at 5 or whatever. Makes sense to me. I try to go easy during the week too, because my wake-up time is so early and I'm going-going-going all day. I'll let loose on a Friday or Saturday night off, and stay out a bit later if my schedule the next day allows me to get a decent night's sleep.

It's not a definite red flag for me, just potential. I understand the rationale. For my part, I like to tie one on once in a blue moon, but mostly I'm drinking beers at such low quantities (one or two in the evening), it doesn't have any effect on the next day. That's my personal preference, obviously. But I can see someone who just holds off because they know they can't limit themselves to 1 or 2. Once they open one, they're going to drink enough to at least get a buzz.