Alcohol

[Tonberry]

Ok bare with me here.

I'm 21 years old and have been with my current GF for nearly three years now. We live in our own place and are reasonably comfortable.

I work roughly 60 hours a week across two jobs whereas she is a full time Law student who works 11 hours a week.

Now personally I've always liked a drink. Have been experimenting with alcohol since about the age of 14 in very small doses. Over the past few years I have seen my alcohol consumption increase very steadily to the stage where I think about alcohol most days.

It used to be the case that I could drink a couple bottles of wine in a night and then not feel the need for another drink for about a good week. Now I'm at the stage that I would like a drink every day but have to physically stop myself from indulging.

My average alcohol consumption is about 20-25 units a week which to me doesn't sound too bad.

I enjoy drinking just as much as the next person but I don't want it to get to the stage where I'm thinking about that first drink when I get home from work everyday.

So, over to you. What are your drinking habits and do you feel they are under control so to speak.

[randlemarcus]

Could you/have you stopped for a month? Good test of your need for alcohol rather than your wants.

Personally, I can take it or leave it, but I do enjoy the odd kick back and deeply bad for me session

[snowy slopes]

Tonberry said:

Ok bare with me here.

I'm 21 years old and have been with my current GF for nearly three years now. We live in our own place and are reasonably comfortable.

I work roughly 60 hours a week across two jobs whereas she is a full time Law student who works 11 hours a week.

Now personally I've always liked a drink. Have been experimenting with alcohol since about the age of 14 in very small doses. Over the past few years I have seen my alcohol consumption increase very steadily to the stage where I think about alcohol most days.

It used to be the case that I could drink a couple bottles of wine in a night and then not feel the need for another drink for about a good week. Now I'm at the stage that I would like a drink every day but have to physically stop myself from indulging.

My average alcohol consumption is about 20-25 units a week which to me doesn't sound too bad.

I enjoy drinking just as much as the next person but I don't want it to get to the stage where I'm thinking about that first drink when I get home from work everyday.

So, over to you. What are your drinking habits and do you feel they are under control so to speak.

My drinking habits are under control, and i probably drink maybe 5 units a week, sometimes i dont drink at all for a while. If you think you are drinking too much, then why dont you ask either your GF for help with drinking less, or seek advice from your doctor, maybe they can point you to someone who can help you control your drinking. On the other hand, if you think i'm talking bks, just ignore me

[The Lukas]

Keep an eye on it, especially if your family has a little history with it. Have you spoken to anybody about it?

[GingerWizard]

Drink as much as you like. The moment you feel the effects of it on your work or home life, knock it on the head. I always make sure all the stuff in and about the house is completed before having a beer, that might be 1600hrs or 2100hrs. Its fine having it as a reward, just don't ever "promise" your self a beer.

some weeks i drink 50 units,

others 10.

The fact that your asking the question says one of two things. You have a problem... or the government guide lines are lies and making you feel guilty....

I know which camp i'm staggering about in apprently...

[jp1982]

I started to go down the route of routine drinking, but it went from a couple in the evening to sometimes not knowing when to stop. It is a slippery slope and it began to affect my social/work life to a certain extent so I decided to change. I had reasons behind my drinking and now limit myself as it was adding to the problems. Another issue which has come up is that I also enjoy a good bottle of wine or a fine single malt or a good pint of beer, so I also drink for the enjoyment of something nice and not just for the affect. I personally have to strike a balance with it.

[Dupont666]

Do you think about alcohol in the morning?

Do you have that extra drink even though you know in the morning that it will make your day hell at work?

Can you do other activities in the evening going out with the other half instead of going straight to the pub?

Do you drink several bottles of wine and then dont drink for a week as you feel like crap?

[Famous Graham]

If you feel the need to

a) quit for a while just to see that you can

or

b) post on an internet forum asking advice

then you're already there.

[Mexic0]

Dupont666 said:

Do you think about alcohol in the morning?

Do you have that extra drink even though you know in the morning that it will make your day hell at work?

Can you do other activities in the evening going out with the other half instead of going straight to the pub?

Do you drink several bottles of wine and then dont drink for a week as you feel like crap?

Fook sake you sound like my ex

OP drink at weekends only.

[5unny]

[redacted]

[ShadownINja]

Not excessive? It's 20 times my average weekly intake. And two bottles of wine on your own a night is pretty bad.

However, if it isn't affecting your life in any way, then, theoretically, you don't have a problem. "Thinking about alcohol most days" would make me concerned, though. Do you crave it? Can you think about it and not touch a drop for a fortnight? Think about your favourite tipple. Mine's single malt. I have a bottle in the kitchen. Imagine what it smells like. Fancy a drop, now?

Edited by ShadownINja on Wednesday 25th August 00:36

[anonymous-user]

I've lived most of my life in enviroments with lots of alchol and few restraints, (3rd world construction camps), and I've always been aware it is easy to become dependent, I've seen lots of good people do it, but only two drinking beer, as its hard to get the alchol volume from beer, so for my own piece of mind a try to adopt a few rules, which have worked for me ,never to drink spirits, never to drink on my own, try not to drink two consecative nights (not easy with business meetings/dinners), never drink with a vehicle, have week off alcohol every month to six weeks, and recognise/accept that it could happen to you.
I think the last is important, and from your post you recognise the problem could exist, good start, I've seen some real good guys, MBA's PHD, Lawyers go wrong with drink it can happen to any one

[Pothole]

ShadownINja said:

Not excessive? It's 20 times my average weekly intake. And two bottles of wine on your own a night is pretty bad.

However, if it isn't affecting your life in any way, then, theoretically, you don't have a problem. "Thinking about alcohol most days" would make me concerned, though. Do you crave it? Can you think about it and not touch a drop for a fortnight? Think about your favourite tipple. Mine's single malt. I have a bottle in the kitchen. Imagine what it smells like. Fancy a drop, now?

Edited by ShadownINja on Wednesday 25th August 00:36

define pretty bad.

[Tonberry]

It's a shame this was moved from the lounge as I was hoping to make this thread more about lifestyles than health matters so to speak.

I am not worried at the moment as my drinking is under control. I don't drink to get wasted, just to feel a nice warmth inside. I guess its more of a habit than anything. The only concerning part is that a habit can turn into a problem.

What sparked me to create this thread is reading through the current 'earnings' one. It would seem that most people drink heavily ateast twice a week, maybe 20+ per night.

Let's hear your experiences and perception of alcohol.

[dave_s13]

GingerWizard said:

The fact that your asking the question says one of two things. You have a problem... or the government guide lines are lies and making you feel guilty....

I have been in the habit lately of drinking something every night. In fact the last time I had an alcohol free 24hrs was probably over 2 months ago.

It's only ever a couple of beers or glasses of wine of an evening and then a few more than that on a weekend but it was starting to nag a bit. But I think it's more to do with feeling guilty about the government telling us how bad it is rather than me waking up hungover and craving a can of special brew.

I am absolutely certain that I am not in the minority with that sort of drinking pattern either.

I'm currently 48hrs "dry" and although I fancied a beer after my dinner last night I didn't start sweating or trembling when I substituted it for a cup of tea.

I feel no better/worse for not having a couple of beers last night btw.

The thing that has prompted me to knock it on the head through the week was that Hospital documentary the other night about the liver unit. The consultant talked about how many people don't appreciate the odd drink of an evening can and does do serious damage over long periods of time; also I just want to make sure I can manage without. Fine so far.

Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 25th August 09:07

[toast boy]

Hmm, interesting one this. I used to go out and get absolutely wasted from about 16-19, then stopped drinking almost completely till about 23. Started drinking occasionally then, but since moving back to Newcastle a year ago have started drinking more and more. I think it's mainly due to the friends I have up here, going out most nights during the week for a couple is the norm but it is becoming a habit that I don't really want to encourage.

[ShadownINja]

Pothole said:

ShadownINja said:

Not excessive? It's 20 times my average weekly intake. And two bottles of wine on your own a night is pretty bad.

However, if it isn't affecting your life in any way, then, theoretically, you don't have a problem. "Thinking about alcohol most days" would make me concerned, though. Do you crave it? Can you think about it and not touch a drop for a fortnight? Think about your favourite tipple. Mine's single malt. I have a bottle in the kitchen. Imagine what it smells like. Fancy a drop, now?

Edited by ShadownINja on Wednesday 25th August 00:36

define pretty bad.

Should consider himself with an alcohol problem.

[ShadownINja]

[redacted]

[Seight_Returns]

dave_s13 said:

The thing that has prompted me to knock it on the head through the week was that Hospital documentary the other night about the liver unit. The consultant talked about how many people don't appreciate the odd drink of an evening can and does do serious damage over long periods of time;

Saw that too.

What just blew my mind was the attitude of some of the people to the consultant - in at least one case laughing in his face when he told them straight that they needed to make lifestyle changes or they'd be buggered within a few years.

To have got in front of the consultant, presumably they would have been to their GP complaining of symptoms suspected to be liver disease, had the blood test to confirm as such and been referred - and even then still not take on board what they're told. What did they expect - "yeah, you've buggered your liver - take these pills twice a day with a can of Special Brew and you'll be fine".

For every one of us here who candidly, maturely and intelligently asks ourselves the question of whether we drink too much and considers doing something about it unprompted - how many people are there who just don't care even when they're given a wake up call that would seem impossible to ignore ?

Edited by Seight_Returns on Wednesday 25th August 13:15

[Meoricin]

I've been through a few periods in the last 12 months where I was drinking 10~ units minimum every night for weeks at a time. I don't think I reduced it below a bottle of spirits in a week at all, until two weeks ago. I woke up with a hangover one day and just thought that I can't afford to be spending this much on drinking, and I've noticed lately that I feel fatter.

So, I decided to see if I could handle no drinking for an extended period of time, and I'm now going to see how long I can last. Have been drinking green tea in the evenings instead, and so far I feel pretty good. Yet to weigh myself or notice a physical difference, but I do feel happier knowing I am capable of not drinking.

That said, I do -really- want a glass of whiskey.