Alcohol

[Slim]

I've just done the sums in a spreadsheet, and it turns out that I've consumed about 90 units of alcohol since Christmas. That's a bit less than 3 units per day on average. Seems a lot. It's definitely been an unusual period because I received a load of alcohol that I normally wouldn't buy.

But I'm going to keep an eye on it now.

The average / day figure isn't the whole story of course, for example if you binge drink 12 units in one night and abstain the rest of the week you'll have done yourself more harm - temporary hopefully - than steadily drinking 20 units over a week. Probably.

But anyway no alcohol today, and today is Day Zero in a new blank spreadsheet. If anyone else wants to join in, comment, track their progress, talk through difficulties or challenges, please do.

I'm not really worried because I drink a lot more moderately than I did 10-15 years ago. But we'll see how it goes.

[The Picnic Wasp]

I decided in late December to try not to drink for a year. Nothing up until now but I now don't feel that I'll manage a year. I think I've lost about half a stone, maybe more, and I'll continue to abstain and eat more healthily until my annual health MOT which should be in March. I'll take stock after that.

[Slim]

This is how I'm calculating units of alcohol. Example: a bottle of Baileys: 700ml (70cl) at 17% strength.

700 * 17 / 1000

.. 11.9 units.

A 330ml bottle of a 5% beer: 330 * 5 / 1000 = 1.65 units.

It's easier to count if you keep your own alcohol separate. So you don't have to work out how much is in a glass, but how much is in a bottle when you buy it which is of course obvious. Of course if you and your significant other share bottles of wine, not so simple. But you can get it roughly right. You could of course use a glass measuring jug ..

Fortunately Mrs Slim has more refined tastes and doesn't drink the cheap Chilean Sauvignon that I bring home from Tesco.

[Nickslikk2112]

I drink roughly 110 units a month. Been the same for years now. Mostly at weekends unless we're out for a special meal in the week.
January tends to be a bit drier than the rest of the year as I try to stick to wine of less than 13% Too much these days is up at 14.5%, I'm getting old I used to actively seek out the stronger stuff, now I look out for the less strong.

[Nick]

I drink roughly 110 units a month. Been the same for years now. Mostly at weekends unless we're out for a special meal in the week.
January tends to be a bit drier than the rest of the year as I try to stick to wine of less than 13% Too much these days is up at 14.5%, I'm getting old I used to actively seek out the stronger stuff, now I look out for the less strong.

Agreed, can't do the strong stuff anymore.

[Matt2112]

I've had an almost-dry January enforced upon me by illness so I've had exactly 6 pints all month, which must be a record low since I reached adulthood.

[The Picnic Wasp]

As is usual for me when I decide to abstain for a while I take a notion for something. Last time it was white wine. This time I'm curious about trying really light red wines. I'm disappointed that I didn't satisfy this craving during the Beaujolais Nouveau period. I don't suppose there will be much left in stock now and even if there is it probably wouldn't be as good. I do miss Saturday night beer though. In any case I should really steer clear of red wine as it does seem to trigger palpitations more readily. Any suggestions for a lighter red would be handy though.

[Slim]

I had a beer when I returned from cycling (a Moretti) so the spreadsheet's off the ground already! Unfortunately I didn't get the full 330ml. I poured about half of it into a glass in the kitchen. A moment later 'er indoors picked up the bottle, and thinking she was pouring the last drips away prior to recycling, started gushing it down the sink! I stopped her after about 15ml I think.

4.5%, 1.42 units.

[pxr5]

I was having a dry month this month but a 60 birthday party yesterday and I had to partake. But I did keep it light until whisky was distributed among the guests - I only had one though.

[Matt2112]

Just passed double—figures pints for the month/year.

Thing is, I don't presently foresee compensating for this much when I'm 100% well again. 

[Slim]

Pretty modest alcohol week. But I've just bought some wine and a bottle of nutter-strength beer at Tesco.

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[Fishy]

Not had a drink since Sunday..still managing to stick to the no alcohol during the week for weight purposes... I'm gasping tbh.. anyway bottle of red tonight

[The Picnic Wasp]

Pretty modest alcohol week. But I've just bought some wine and a bottle of nutter-strength beer at Tesco.

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What's with the 329ml? Did you dribble? 😁

[Slim]

Pretty modest alcohol week. But I've just bought some wine and a bottle of nutter-strength beer at Tesco.

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What's with the 329ml? Did you dribble? 😁

Sadly I noticed a bit left in the glass just before I migrated it from my desk to the dishwasher yesterday evening. But it was warm and flat. So I chucked it.

[Nick]

Dry Jan ending tonight. As always a struggle in the first half then not too bad for the rest of the month. I don't think I can ever give it up but at least I can control it. Went a bit off the rails during Covid.

It always is strange to me how the Americans always seem to bring up how many years sober they are during interviews or are introduced as x years of sobriety. Some of them only drank for a few years to begin with.