Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 21:24     Subject: Re:How much do you drink?
I have two drinks a night. More than I should but I eat smart, do my best to be fit, no drugs or tobacco, no infidelity, work hard, provide well for my family and I’m generous with my giving. If this is the worst flaw I will ever have I’m happy with it.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 21:13     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:No one will tell you honestly what they drink based on your judgemental thread.

And judging by the goody goody answers, people are either lying or they are really boring.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 20:32     Subject: How much do you drink?
I suspect all the studies linking low to moderate levels of drinking to health consequences are overstating the risk due to the existence of other factors that can’t be controlled against well.

That, and, it seems reasonable that drinking a lot of water and having a meal with the alcohol dilutes the alcohol by volume considerably, which eases the burden on the organs and probably mitigates a lot of the ill effects.

We are in a moment right now where “everything is toxic” is being rewarded with a lot of attention.

The long term risks of heavy drinking are well documented. I could be convinced that even moderate drinking, especially when not consumed along side food and water, carries increased risks. But 1 drink with food and water every night at dinner seems incredibly unlikely to pose a statistically significant risk to long term health…
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 18:03     Subject: Re:How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:In my mid 40s, I started drinking a lot ... up to 3-5 drinks every evening, most evenings. So that's an average of maybe 28 drinks per week.


And to people who want to know, what was I drinking? It was usually something like this:

1 beer when I got home from work "to unwind".

I'd have a glass of wine while cooking dinner, then maybe a glass with the meal.

Then in the late evening, I'd watch some TV while maybe folding the laundry or something, and I'd eat a salty snack (usually popcorn with something spicy like cayenne pepper!) and drink a shot of vodka over ice. Or maybe 2. That's how I got up to 5 drinks a day. Over about a decade the number of drinks I needed to have an effect started getting higher and higher - I guess that was building up a tolerance. I could see that it was just going to keep going higher and higher, hence my decision to just quit.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:45     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:I love alcohol. I wish it wasnt so unhealthy :'(


+1
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:44     Subject: Re:How much do you drink?
In my mid 40s, I started drinking a lot ... up to 3-5 drinks every evening, most evenings. So that's an average of maybe 28 drinks per week.

I cut back when I realized how much more I was drinking than the average American... I think this was the article I read and the graph I saw. I'm curious if it still holds true? It put me between the 9th and 10th decile for alcohol consumption.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/09/25/think-you-drink-a-lot-this-chart-will-tell-you

I tried to cut back one time, but then gained weight! I tried again, and used The Alcohol Experiment (This Naked Mind/ Annie Grace) and just stopped drinking over the course of two months. That was probably about 8 years ago now. I never made a big deal about "I'm sober XYZ days" or anything like that. I just decided I wasn't interested in drinking any longer. It doesn't make sense for me.

Since about 2 years ago, I have occasionally had a glass of wine or champagne - I'd say twice a year. It is very seldom. I do like the taste of some wine.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:44     Subject: How much do you drink?
I love alcohol. I wish it wasnt so unhealthy :'(
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:39     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Due to medications and having an exhausting life, I rarely drink.

If I wasn't dealing with chronic illness and severe depression, I'd be in drinking a lot more.

I envy people who are out having a great time this summer. Who are healthy and can actually live life.


I’m just a busy dad and I don’t have time to drink. If I have time to sit down and sip something cold - I usually desperately need some water.

Also, I’m healthy and can’t stand the idea of wasting my summer days being drunk. [list]Go for a bike ride or a hike you drunk f*cks.


NP

OMG I’m a daily beer drinker and this made me snort-laugh!


Don’t tell PP but sometimes I bike to a brewery and have a drink!
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:39     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Question for parents; did your drinking habits change when you have kids?

I’m 31, no kids, married and I enjoy drinking - my husband and I go out a couple nights a week and have a few. I want to cut back but it’s tough haha, it’s a fun way to unwind.


Yes, just because your opportunities for drinking decline. You're not going to bars or as many parties.

It's a lie to say there aren't social engagements, but you don't have as many. Also, frankly, it's just not very much fun to parent drunk/hungover.


I would say that my drinking increased with kids in that I started drinking regularly at home, including cocktails. Prior to kids I never really kept alcohol in the house. But when I did drink pre-kids I’d drink a LOT more, sometimes all night. Now I’d never have more than 3 drinks and that is very very rare and usually spread over hours, like Thanksgiving.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:36     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Too much. But damn I have a fun life.

Same. Lol.

As far as qty, it varies quite a bit. I also enjoy MJ so depends on who I'm with and what we are doing. Generally fri/sat, sometimes sun. Between DH and I we probably go through 3 bottles of wine, cocktails maybe a beer or two (I've stopped beer for weight loss reasons), shots if we are entertaining. Over a weekend. Honestly worse than the sleep and hangover is the $$$! I don't like drinking cheap stuff, so I know we'd save a ton if we cut back.


That sounds sad and pathetic, not fun.

I'm not a teetotaler, but if you can't have a good time without alcohol and drugs, you're not actually having fun - you're just altering your mind to give you that illusion.

Lol ok. I'm not very concerned about a rando on the internet thinks, just wanted to add an honest answer to the thread from someone who enjoys partaking. I'm sure you know the phrase about opinions and AHs.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:21     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Due to medications and having an exhausting life, I rarely drink.

If I wasn't dealing with chronic illness and severe depression, I'd be in drinking a lot more.

I envy people who are out having a great time this summer. Who are healthy and can actually live life.


I’m just a busy dad and I don’t have time to drink. If I have time to sit down and sip something cold - I usually desperately need some water.

Also, I’m healthy and can’t stand the idea of wasting my summer days being drunk. Go for a bike ride or a hike you drunk f*cks.


Yikes. I'm not a big drinker, but I'm also not prone to bursts of judgmental anger. You might want to ride your bike and take a deep breath.


How do you type when your hands are shaking so much? Don't you spill your vodka?


Oh! I didn't realize it was you! Basement Bro, you are in fine form today.


If you are going to accuse people of having "anger" because they don't drink as much as you, I think it's fair for them to ask about your sobriety.


The "anger" comment was directly related to you calling people "you drunk f*ks." That, to me, is inappropriate, especially in light of the fact that hardly anyone on this thread (admits to) drinks heavily and many not at all. I believe people make sweeping and derogatory generalizations due to anger.


It was an offhand casual comment. You are too defensive.


I don't find "you drunk f*ks" to be an offhanded casual comment. Whatever it is, it is accusatory and judgmental. I don't care if people drink or not. I just hate mean people.


oh well
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:14     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Too much. But damn I have a fun life.

Same. Lol.

As far as qty, it varies quite a bit. I also enjoy MJ so depends on who I'm with and what we are doing. Generally fri/sat, sometimes sun. Between DH and I we probably go through 3 bottles of wine, cocktails maybe a beer or two (I've stopped beer for weight loss reasons), shots if we are entertaining. Over a weekend. Honestly worse than the sleep and hangover is the $$$! I don't like drinking cheap stuff, so I know we'd save a ton if we cut back.


That sounds sad and pathetic, not fun.

I'm not a teetotaler, but if you can't have a good time without alcohol and drugs, you're not actually having fun - you're just altering your mind to give you that illusion.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:14     Subject: Re:How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Up until January 2024 I consistently drank the equivalent of five shots of bourbon every day, more on the weekends. I'm a 40yo female.

I did a Dry January and it stuck for five months. More recently, I have had a few drinks at social events/vacation.


Good for you, PP! Any tips to cut back? I want to make a change and so does DH.


PP here. I can tell you what I did.

I leaned in hard to focusing on not drinking, and my health. I got an app for my phone that counts the days without drinks (and tells me how much money and calories I saved). I read every book under the sun on alcohol reduction and health/wellness in general. I spent a TON of time on walks listening to those audiobooks. As a result, I went to be early, ridiculously early. If I'm not awake at 9:00, I can't pour that 9:00 habitual drink! I focused on getting quality sleep, quality exercise, and intentional time doing different things with friends and family. That got me through Dry January.

I had every intention at stopping at one month, but just...kept going without thinking about it much. After about two months, I got to the point where it didn't occur to me to have a drink.

I do have one of those Recess "adaptogen" drinks quite frequently. I think it is just a placebo, but I like the way they taste. I tried a bunch of NA beer/wine/liquor, but they weren't for me.

We'll see how it goes from here. It was never my intention to stop drinking forever. I just wanted to feel better, and I do!


Your 1st drink was 9pm?

I’d have to go to bed at 4pm. 🕓 😃
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:07     Subject: Re:How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Up until January 2024 I consistently drank the equivalent of five shots of bourbon every day, more on the weekends. I'm a 40yo female.

I did a Dry January and it stuck for five months. More recently, I have had a few drinks at social events/vacation.


Good for you, PP! Any tips to cut back? I want to make a change and so does DH.


PP here. I can tell you what I did.

I leaned in hard to focusing on not drinking, and my health. I got an app for my phone that counts the days without drinks (and tells me how much money and calories I saved). I read every book under the sun on alcohol reduction and health/wellness in general. I spent a TON of time on walks listening to those audiobooks. As a result, I went to be early, ridiculously early. If I'm not awake at 9:00, I can't pour that 9:00 habitual drink! I focused on getting quality sleep, quality exercise, and intentional time doing different things with friends and family. That got me through Dry January.

I had every intention at stopping at one month, but just...kept going without thinking about it much. After about two months, I got to the point where it didn't occur to me to have a drink.

I do have one of those Recess "adaptogen" drinks quite frequently. I think it is just a placebo, but I like the way they taste. I tried a bunch of NA beer/wine/liquor, but they weren't for me.

We'll see how it goes from here. It was never my intention to stop drinking forever. I just wanted to feel better, and I do!


That’s so great, PP! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2024 17:02     Subject: How much do you drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Due to medications and having an exhausting life, I rarely drink.

If I wasn't dealing with chronic illness and severe depression, I'd be in drinking a lot more.

I envy people who are out having a great time this summer. Who are healthy and can actually live life.


I’m just a busy dad and I don’t have time to drink. If I have time to sit down and sip something cold - I usually desperately need some water.

Also, I’m healthy and can’t stand the idea of wasting my summer days being drunk. [list]Go for a bike ride or a hike you drunk f*cks.


NP

OMG I’m a daily beer drinker and this made me snort-laugh!