This week the BBC monitored the drinking diaries of two typical professional people in their late twenties - both considered themselves to be health conscious and fit.
What emerged was a picture of what many people might consider ‘normal’ patterns of drinking in our culture. However, when their level of alcohol consumption was broken down into units it became apparent that both of them were drinking way in excess of recommended guidelines - 37 units for the woman and 112 units for the man.
They also demonstrated a significant level of ignorance about their drinking, and about the implications for their health. One of them actually said - “I don’t like getting drunk…” yet had consumed over 15 units per session on five days that week, and 25 units (as far as he could remember) on the Saturday! That’s about 8 pints of strong lager or nearly 3 bottles of wine. But he doesn’t like getting drunk - yeah, right!
However, a survey by YouGov also found that many people have no idea what the recommended safe alcohol consumption levels actually are (14 units per week for women and 21 for men), and very few were aware of the units of alcohol present in common drinks. [Here’s a very handy units of alcohol calculator]
The thing which strikes you when you read the two diaries is that there are many people around drinking exactly the same amounts, yet believing that they don’t have a problem with alcohol.
I’m with you too holly, I’m young but started drinking in the day too. Not long before physical dependence creeps up on you and that’s when alcohol becomes just as bad as any other hard drug. You don’t want to get to the point of having the shakes in the morning and panicking about whether or not they’ll develop into seizures and hallucinations (DTs) I’ve been sober for 7 months and am only 20 but life Is so much better without it believe me! The worst part is having to offer a justification as to why you’re not drinking to people who just don’t understand alcoholism. It’s like giving a reason for not doing something that would inevitably land you six feet under well before your time…
Lesley , you’re not on your own ..For the record , I’m a divorced 50 y.o who is also admitting to drinking too much .. If I have one alcohol free evening a week I feel quite virtuous .. Normally it’s a bottle of wine a night .. and if I have a spare in the cupboard it might just be opened too . Saying that , it hasn’t impacted on my life too much in that I haven’t had a days sick leave this year.
Looking back on what I’ve read I’m realising what a sad case I have become !
I’m thinking of a New Years Resolution along the lines of 3/4 alcohol free evenings..
omg , that’s sadder still …HELP;-)
Like all of you I am drinking too much, I am in my 50’s and started drinking more than just socially in my 40″s after some family problems.I am holding down my job, just, and have a loving and supportive husband, (how much longer is another thing!).The side effects of alchohol abuse are now kicking in, short term memory loss, fatigue, feeling horrible every morning even on days when I drink a little less. I am afraid I may not make it to see my twin girls finish university. I am now trying to cut down from 5,to 4 to 3 etc per day. I hope that I will be able to stop completely. If I can stop I do not think I would ever be able to drink again without becoming addicted again. I will let you know how I get on through this site Perhaps if anyone else thinks that they may want to try this we could support each other? This is the first time that I have admitted to anyone that I am an alcoholic.
Just to make you aware of it Lesley, there’s a large and supportive forum on this website where you’ll get much more immediate replies than you will to this comment. It’s just not a regularly visited post, as you can see by the dates.
I hate this, the black outs, memory loss, help!
I started a drinking diary when I realised I was an alcoholic. Dependent on where you live your doctor can refer you to the alcohol dependence team. I’ve just finished my detox. As the diary in my website shows, eventually they are brilliant. In my area anyway.
Hope this helps.
Mike
hi holly,
i totally feel your pain. i’m much older than you (it kills me to even say that!)… 35 but i didn’t start drinking till i was almost 21. then it was like making up for lost time. i have severe anxiety problems and alcohol seems to be the only thing that helps, especially in the morning. my friends are very concerned as well. as much as we don’t want to think it is a problem, it really is. i don’t know what to do about it either! i just don’t feel like stopping is an option….
i need help to stop. i cant stop on my own. i enjoy drinking. . . at school. i am 18 and so i feel it cannot be a serious problem. i am young, and lots of people drink at my age, however, i have passed just drinking on a night out, it has become more important to me to drink during the day, even on my own. the biggest problem is that once i have one drink, i cant seem to stop, until i throw up or physically pass out. even in the morning, i want a drink, just to chill me out. i dont think it is a confidence thing or a real problem i have, however, it has started to upset people around me and friends are concerned. i dont think it is a big problem and i really just wanted to know what others think about it. please help me. my email is holly_hardy at live .co.uk thank you