Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 11:20     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:I am a PP who usually has 0 drinks in a week, but who has an occasionally glass of wine, about 1 every month or 2. To answer the questions above:

When I eat, no matter where I am, I almost always drink plain (still) water.

Like most people (?), I socialize at my home or the homes of others, at restaurants, and occasionally at a bar. At these times, I usually club soda or sparkling water. I feel zero (0) weirdness about drinking non-alcoholic drinks while others are imbibing. Doesn't bother me in the least.


Do you tip extra? I wonder if waiters hate when people don’t order alcohol. When our family goes out, DH and I probably order $40-$50 in drinks if we don’t get a bottle of wine. So food only at a casual restaurant is probably under $100 but with alcohol it would add $10 to the tip.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 11:18     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:0-2


This.

Since hitting 40, one drink usually makes me very tired, so it takes a lot for me to have two. I also get migraines and even one drink can trigger one so I rarely risk it.

Even during the holidays, 0-2 is standard. Like this week I had two glasses of wine at a new year's day party and that's it. I drank non-alcoholic wine on NYE at a party where the hostess doesn't drink at all.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 11:16     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:20-30 generally. I'll usually drink 2-3 nights a week and drink 8-10 drinks on a drinking night. I'm in an interesting limbo where I would definitely drink every night if I could, but have enough self-control to be able to not drink any night I choose. Definitely mentally dependent on alcohol to socialize and have fun but so far have been able to avoid physical dependence.

It's fascinating to see how many nondrinkers there are out there. A while back the Washington Post had an infographic that showed that the top 20% of drinkers consume like 80% of all alcohol, and that fully 50% of people either never drink or drink extremely rarely. It seemed unbelievable at first since everyone I know drinks regularly but I guess that's because we've self-selected ourselves into our groups based on our consumption habits.

I'm really interested to know, what do all you nondrinkers do when you socialize? I basically have zero frame of reference for social interactions that aren't at a bar or a party.


I go to bars and parties and don't drink. It's truly not that difficult.


To the PP who can't fathom what people who don't drink do. I can't. How ignorant are you? I'm sad for you.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 11:07     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
I don’t know how many drinks it is, but I go through about a bottle of 1.75l spirits a week, more or less
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 06:17     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Zero.


I’m not your PCP so you can be honest.


What's the point of this thread?

And why is someone doubting a poster who replies "zero?"


Perhaps they're drunks who can't stop drinking.

OP just wants to get a sense if their drinking is "normal."


Or perhaps I dont like how alcohol makes me feel later or the next day —even just one. I don’t find alcohol or caffeine to add benefit to my life. I may choose to have a drink or two a year and I don’t get excited about it.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 05:16     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
0-1
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 15:36     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
I am a PP who usually has 0 drinks in a week, but who has an occasionally glass of wine, about 1 every month or 2. To answer the questions above:

When I eat, no matter where I am, I almost always drink plain (still) water.

Like most people (?), I socialize at my home or the homes of others, at restaurants, and occasionally at a bar. At these times, I usually club soda or sparkling water. I feel zero (0) weirdness about drinking non-alcoholic drinks while others are imbibing. Doesn't bother me in the least.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 15:27     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:20-30 generally. I'll usually drink 2-3 nights a week and drink 8-10 drinks on a drinking night. I'm in an interesting limbo where I would definitely drink every night if I could, but have enough self-control to be able to not drink any night I choose. Definitely mentally dependent on alcohol to socialize and have fun but so far have been able to avoid physical dependence.

It's fascinating to see how many nondrinkers there are out there. A while back the Washington Post had an infographic that showed that the top 20% of drinkers consume like 80% of all alcohol, and that fully 50% of people either never drink or drink extremely rarely. It seemed unbelievable at first since everyone I know drinks regularly but I guess that's because we've self-selected ourselves into our groups based on our consumption habits.

I'm really interested to know, what do all you nondrinkers do when you socialize? I basically have zero frame of reference for social interactions that aren't at a bar or a party.


Sounds like you and your friends are really boring then.

You really can't comprehend hanging out with friends without alcohol? That sounds incredibly sad.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 15:00     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:20-30 generally. I'll usually drink 2-3 nights a week and drink 8-10 drinks on a drinking night. I'm in an interesting limbo where I would definitely drink every night if I could, but have enough self-control to be able to not drink any night I choose. Definitely mentally dependent on alcohol to socialize and have fun but so far have been able to avoid physical dependence.

It's fascinating to see how many nondrinkers there are out there. A while back the Washington Post had an infographic that showed that the top 20% of drinkers consume like 80% of all alcohol, and that fully 50% of people either never drink or drink extremely rarely. It seemed unbelievable at first since everyone I know drinks regularly but I guess that's because we've self-selected ourselves into our groups based on our consumption habits.

I'm really interested to know, what do all you nondrinkers do when you socialize? I basically have zero frame of reference for social interactions that aren't at a bar or a party.


I go to bars and parties and don't drink. It's truly not that difficult.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:49     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:20-30 generally. I'll usually drink 2-3 nights a week and drink 8-10 drinks on a drinking night. I'm in an interesting limbo where I would definitely drink every night if I could, but have enough self-control to be able to not drink any night I choose. Definitely mentally dependent on alcohol to socialize and have fun but so far have been able to avoid physical dependence.

It's fascinating to see how many nondrinkers there are out there. A while back the Washington Post had an infographic that showed that the top 20% of drinkers consume like 80% of all alcohol, and that fully 50% of people either never drink or drink extremely rarely. It seemed unbelievable at first since everyone I know drinks regularly but I guess that's because we've self-selected ourselves into our groups based on our consumption habits.

I'm really interested to know, what do all you nondrinkers do when you socialize? I basically have zero frame of reference for social interactions that aren't at a bar or a party.

Dinner parties
Restaurants
Game/cards nights
Concerts
Theater
Parties
Museums/art galleries
Comedy club
Exploring new towns or cities
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:28     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:Still, no one has addressed the issue of drinking a glass of wine with a meal. Do most of you (essentially) non-drinkers rarely have a glass of wine (or beer) with a meal - even when dining out with others? Do you just drink water?

There are many other cultures that see wine as part of the meal experience. They do not drink for drinking's sake but to enhance their dining.

I'm thinking this must be a one-off DCUM thing since very few adults I know only have a couple of drinks per year...



I prefer to drink on an empty stomach, it makes me appreciate food more later

Like the old days of drinking in college and then getting that amazing hot dog or sausage with peppers in a toasted bun from the street vendor

Drinking and eating at the same time for me just dulls both experiences

I mean, we're all different humans, some of us like sex certain ways etc. it's not beyond the pale that we all have our substance abuses in different ways. I don't see how there are people who can still argue that you can be killing yourself over a longer period of time gaining 100s of pounds vs. being very fit and talented and having wealth and still overdosing on meds drugs whatever it is.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:23     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:Still, no one has addressed the issue of drinking a glass of wine with a meal. Do most of you (essentially) non-drinkers rarely have a glass of wine (or beer) with a meal - even when dining out with others? Do you just drink water?

There are many other cultures that see wine as part of the meal experience. They do not drink for drinking's sake but to enhance their dining.

I'm thinking this must be a one-off DCUM thing since very few adults I know only have a couple of drinks per year...



For me, yeah, I just drink water. I like the taste of wine in food (in sauces etc) but I find that alcohol limits how much I enjoy the food I’m eating as it kind of takes over my palate. I do fully understand that this is not the experience for many people. But that, coupled with disliking the feeling of even a slight buzz, leads me not to drink while eating (or in general).

Initially I felt weird about not drinking when others were and I would order something and have a few sips but I just don’t bother anymore.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:43     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Male. 12-15 drinks every night I don’t have to work the next day.


So, you don't want to be productive even if you don't have work the next day?

No gym/exercise?

No errands?

No hobbies that involve actually doing things?


Yes gym, exercise, hiking and errands and kids’ sports. I don’t get hung over so I can be up and ready to go.



So you're an alcoholic. Just a functioning one. Having more than a couple of drinks and not getting hungover is not normal. Except maybe if you're the size of Shaq.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:24     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
In a typical week I don't have any. I have an alcoholic beverage 5 or 6 times a year. It has been years since I've had more than 2 drinks in one night. I don't like the way alcohol makes me feel.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:03     Subject: How many alcoholic drinks do you have a week?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Male. 12-15 drinks every night I don’t have to work the next day.


So, you don't want to be productive even if you don't have work the next day?

No gym/exercise?

No errands?

No hobbies that involve actually doing things?

Yes gym, exercise, hiking and errands and kids’ sports. I don’t get hung over so I can be up and ready to go.