I've decided to knock the grog on the head for a bit. The reason ? I drink way too much and I ain't getting any younger so I've got to consider the health implications. Government guidelines state 21 units per week for a bloke. That's a bottle and half of red wine or ten and a half pints of normal strength beer I believe. I was drinking about 5 bottles of red a week, not good. I don't drink beer in the house but if I go out I drink about seven pints and that's me done. Some of my mates drink a lot more than that and some drink a lot less. I have mates who drink every night and others who can go months without a drop. I reckon I was drinking 5 or 6 nights a week. What's the consensus out there and how much do you lot drink?
I always think of it like this; if ***s and booze were invented today they would probably be illegal due to the health and social problems they can cause. Saying that, I smoke far too much but can take or leave the booze to an extent. However I love the social aspects of pubs so tend to have a few when i go in a pub. And then there are doner burgers................. Yep, my body's a temple.
I'm not a massive boozer, apart from a few quiet bitters in the pub I don't like to drink. I don't like lager, cider is too sickly-sweet to drink more than a couple of pints and lager tastes like piss. I don't see the point in spirits either, it's like drinking bleach.
i dont really drink at home unless im watching the arrows, got to be done- , and i only really go out once a fortnight these days on a friday or saturday night, then its usually 8-10 pints, then i get a bit bloated so have a couple of bottles, then depending on what time im out too, maybe 4 or 5 vodka/red bulls, rum/coke or whatever is put under my nose.
A 12% bottle of wine is 'only' about 9 units, so you're not quite as badly off as you thought. But 45 is still high. I probably veer between 15 and 35 most weeks.
I average a six pack per week. If I'm at a bar I'll have two pints. Just depends on the week I suppose. From August through February I drink more due to the American football season.
FACTOID. You do know the 21 units for a man and 15 for a woman was a figure they plucked out of the air dont you. FACTOID. I was considering stopping drinking for 3 weeks as the family are going to Spain in 3 weeks time and i want to look my best, but as you never see fat wino's I've decided to carry on drinking and stop eating food.
The real safe limit is 63 units a week - and even then that only brings your health risk down to be level with a teetotaller. The 21 units is complete bollocks with no scientific basis whatsoever. Keep hydrated, eat healthily, don't smoke and have at least 2-3 days free of booze a week. Do that and you probably don't have to worry about how much you drink on the other 4 or so days.
I actually go out about four times a year with my mates so it's the drinking in house thing that I have to cut down on. It's the expense as well. I pay about £6 to £7 a bottle of red. Times that by 5 and then by 4 and I'm spending about £130-£140 a month on vino. Probably what OLM spends on a bottle then.
It's from a study back in the early Nineties. Truth is no one knows yet how damaging alcohol is, and obviously everyone's body is different.
Me and the missus get through 10-15 bottles a week, so she's become an expert at buying £10 bottles when they're on half price. I do have a couple of bottles of red that were £80 each(and that was duty free), but I'm waiting for a special occasion.
Try this, (OK it's a brewery's website but it is an independent study and Google searches reveal plenty of other hits): http://www.buntingford-brewery.co.uk/downloads/nottmdrnkr-Aug08-p3.pdf
I don't really like the taste of most alcohol, but I'm a social drinker. I go out about once a week and I'll drink with my mates but I never drink at home. I'll also drink at sporting events or family gatherings (usually to forget). I got so drunk at my dads wedding on Caipirinha's that I can't remember most of it, although I did wake up in the hotel with a fruit bowl full of tuna sandwiches - I don't even like Tuna!
Try House of Townend on Melton business park. Do some really nice stuff for £5 to £6 a bottle, depending what's on offer. Turi, a Chilean Cab Sav is spot on for about £6 a bottle. I'm liking the new safe limit of 63 units as well. Might have to re consider my stance on cutting down.
