Alcohol consumption - finding the sweet spot / honest guidelines.

General health and lifestyle
1

Hi everyone,

I have a couple of questions that I don't want the official UK guidelines answer to, but honest opinions or experiences from others - I'll give a little background on myself first ...

I'm early thirties and have always enjoyed a drink on an evening - never during the day unless we were out for a special occasion like at a wedding or a stag do or something like that!

Never go out on a weekend clubbing or even to the pub really - maybe once a fortnight we'll go out for a couple of pints and tea at the pub. Never 'binge drink' to the point where i'd be consuming spirits and beers and lagers and everything in one night.

I do, however, wholeheartedly love a bottle/litre of wine at home on a night, sat working on my laptop or watching a film. I used to work late shifts 2/3 nights per week until 10pm and never had a drink on them nights, but i left that job last summer and with me now being home every night ... I have found myself in the habit of having a just over a bottle of 11% wine almost nightly over the last 7 or 8 months. Units wise were pretty much bang on 10 units.

I just love it -  It's creates a homely, cosy, chilled, relaxed feeling for me and I know doing it every single night needs to change - which it already has - but I am looking for others opinions and advice on what to change it to.

I'm know i'm not dependent - I have some days where I dont want to drink, I hate the thought of a glass of wine during the day or with dinner or tea - sometimes I don't drink for a few days at a time - usually when im working late in my new line of work or if I have to be up early the next day - i went for 5 days in december without a single sip. Haven't had a drink for the last 3 days as im writing this ... but I enjoy my chilled out, relaxing bottle or so on a night at the end of the day that i could easily continue drinking most nights.

My questions - 

1. I'm aware that what I have been drinking lately is a hell of a lot - Does the fact that I was drinking somewhere around 10 units per night almost nightly most weeks for half a year mean I could have done some damage to my liver in this time? - i'm currently going through a little detox for a fortnight until Valentines day when we're going away for the night, so will a 2 week breather give my body time to repair?

2. When I do get the wine back out, how many days should I have my 10 unit tipple? I'm thinking 40 units maximum over 4 or 5 nights.

i'm wanting to enjoy it, not have to overthink how much or how little to drink - just get the sweet spot for me in terms of how much and how often.

The UK guidelines are way too low, I read an article in the Independent or the Guardian about a guy who was told the UK Govt sets the limits so low because they know how much people lie about their alcohol intake. 14 units per week per man is a bottle and a half of wine - I know very few people who consume alcohol that drink within that limit. Mediterranean guidelines are more like 35 units per week - this is somewhat more like what I believe it an acceptable amount. 

I'm one of these people who believes you get one life, you should do what makes you happy, and I love few things more than sitting on an evening with a bottle of wine to unwind after the days events. I know you get one life, so you have to take care of yourself too - but in reality ... what really is too much? 

2

I'm no expert but from what I've seen alcohol becomes addictive when you overuse it on a repeated basis. There are times in people's lives when they drink more than they should but long term misuse is not good for you. Even if you overeat peanut butter cookies for eight months every night it's not going to be good for you. Alcohol misuse is not as serious as alcohol abuse according to the addictive specialists but it's still not good for you. Find a healthier way to unwind. And have your wine once in a while when you can appreciate it. PS I saw no one responded so I tried.

I drink about 1 bottle of wine over a 3 month period so I'm probably not your normal drinker

3

Hi,  I am new to this, and my situation is not really the same but as an outsider it does sound like you are drinking excessively. I would say a couple of glasses a night at best is sufficient which to me is a half bottle of wine. Also what jumped out to me is your description of why you drink that much: "I just love it -  It's creates a homely, cosy, chilled, relaxed feeling for me" it sounds to me you are using alcohol to create a more comfortable environment for yourself, when in reality you shouldn't need alcohol to do that, right?

4

1. Different people have different livers. I recently had mine checked and it was within the normal limits. Rather a surprise for somebody who was drinking 30 units a day. Personally, I'd guess your liver is ok but you'll need to get it tested if you want to find out the truth.

​2. Ricky Gervais had a routine about those very obese people who weigh 80 stone. He basically said 'Didn't they notice when they were 20 or 30 stone that they might want to change their diet?' So, yes, I'd guess 35 units a week is probably ok if you are happy with it. But over time people build up tolerance so you'll need to be careful.