How Much Drinking Is Too Much?

by minimus 41 Replies latest jw friends

  • SAHS
    SAHS

    I’ve heard it said by folks at a certain “12 step” program that it’s not quite so much the amount of alcohol that they drank but what it did to them. (I probably shouldn’t mention the name of the particular “12 step” program because apparently they like to remain anonymous.)

    I would agree that anything over three 12-ounce bottles/cans of beer daily, every single day, would be considered a bit “too much” for an average-sized man. And I would agree that around four or five standard drinks would usually be at the beginning of being “drunk” for the average-sized man.

    Most here said that they have less alcohol tolerance as they get older, but in my case I find that my tolerance has definitely been increasing. I’m currently 48 years old, and my tolerance has pretty well doubled over the past 20 or so years.

    I myself am definitely a “binge drinker” and a “chance drinker.” I could go several months without any drinking, but then when I got the opportunity when my folks were away for a week or two, or when I was alone doing some house/dog sitting for a week, then I would sort of be off to the races and usually have between six and eight 20-ounce pints of beer from the taps in one session at a bar, and I would do this twice a week during those times when I would be alone for a week or two. My record is actually 14 of those 20-ounce pints of beer in one day, and I didn’t seem to really feel much undue effect from it.

    I’ve been on and off that friggin’ wagon quite a few times in my life, with a nice long slew of relapses to boot. They say that resentment is a large part of alcoholism, and I find that there’s nothing like living in a strongly JW family since birth to foster that. I just have to keep exploring some general scientific knowledge about psychology and anthropology and try to maintain some level of emotional well-being and balance.

  • DeWandelaar
    DeWandelaar

    I drink a bottle of wine a day (sometimes more)... i know it could be dangerous but I enjoy it more than being sober at home.

  • fulano
    fulano

    Don't worry, I am around 50 now and have been drinking a liter of wine a day for the last 30 years, with a Cognac or rum ( missionary-service, there was no cognac), after dinner.

    Everything ok, thinking, no viagra etc. My parents the same and are deep into their eighties.

  • fulano
    fulano

    DeWandelaar must be Dutch :) :) since a few years I smoke a Dutch Havana everyday before bedtijd ...

  • jws
    jws

    When I was of legal age and a JW, I used to drink to get drunk. I was in my early 20's. The town had a culture of drinking. And I was also shy and it helped me come out of my shell.

    Now I drink socially or just when I'm in the mood for a good tasting beer. Hot day, grill going, a cold beer goes down oh so well.

    At one point in my younger years, I got a DWI (no accidents or injuries, I was stopped for speeeding and...). As part of the process, I had to be evaluated for alcoholism. I lied my ass off. I was in my early 20's, in college. I did what everybody else in my age group was doing.

    Did I ever black out? Did I ever have a hangover? I saw the direction the questions were going in and answered no to them. Questions most people would probably answer yes to even if they don't drink much.

    I lied so as not to end up in AA. I knew I wasn't an alcoholic. I had no dependency issues. Using and enjoying or even over-using on occasion is not the same as being dependent or addicted.

    There's an ad campaign now that says buzzed driving is drunk driving. And while that may apply to driving, there's a big difference between a buzz and being drunk, by the standards most people use. I drink regularly nowadays, but I can't remember the last time I was drunk. Probably years. Buzzed, yes. Drunk, no. What I think is it's a combination of maturity and trying to stick with beer. Beer seems to self-regulate me. Since the alcohol content is lower, I tend to fill up and slow down. So as the blood-alcohol level is rising, I'm tapering off my drinking. So I remain at buzzed and don't reach drunk.

    How much is too much? If it's adversely affecting you, it's too much. Each person's body is different as to what they can tolerate. And alcohol and different types of alcohol seem to affect people differently. So there's no one-fits-all answer.

  • quellycatface
    quellycatface

    I drink a bottle of wine a day. Just had a blood test for menopause purposes and my liver ALT level is fine.

  • fulano
    fulano

    Good for you quelly...you can increase increase now.

  • tiki
    tiki

    a day without wine is a day without sunshine

    if you are an addict and/or alcoholic stay away from spirited libations....

    if you are not, enjoy yourself.

    too much deprivation is bad for the psyche

  • humbled
    humbled

    Sometimes it is too much drinking when the person you live with tells you it is affecting THEM.

    The life of the "designated driver" can get pretty dreary.

  • digderidoo
    digderidoo

    For me, 1 is too many and 10 is not enough.

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