How much drinking is too much?

[KurskKnyaz]

Almost every night, For the last month and a half, I've been sipping on 2 shots of cognac/gin/tequila as I watch a South Park episode before bed. I was always a social drinker but this started only recently (maybe it has to do with the fact that I haven't had a cigerette in 134 days)

Just wanted to know if that is considered too much drinking. Its not problematic in any way; I'm asking in terms of the volume of alcohol consumed. I'm 26 years old and healthy.

 

[Koing]

http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_i...le/alcohol/alctest.asp

2 shots a day is 14units a week. You can smash down 3 more shots so double up on a few days and take a day off! Party time!

But being serious the website says to take at least one day off where you don't drink at all.

Koing

 

[KurskKnyaz]

nice web site. Thanks. glad to know i'm good with the drinking, someone had told me that was too much.

 

[KurskKnyaz]

actually now that I think about it 2 x 100g shots a day is about 80g of alcohol a day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R...of_alcoholic_beverages

seems excessive unless I'm missing something

 

[Titan]

I personally stop drinking entirely while trying to lose weight. I think it occupies the attention of the liver too much. If you're not cutting though, do whatever works for you!

I've had nights where I drank a lot of beer (organic, unfiltered ale) and woke up the next day feeling amazingly good, but I wouldn't do that every day.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: KurskKnyaz
actually now that I think about it 2 x 100g shots a day is about 80g of alcohol a day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R...of_alcoholic_beverages

seems excessive unless I'm missing something

You're not using a standard shot glass.

If your shot glass is 100 mL, then that is over 2 standard "shots" (1.5 oz) - about 2.3. Two of those would be equivalent to four drinks a day, and for men the limit is 2 drinks/day - 12 oz beer, 6 oz wine or 1.5 oz liquor/spirits (ideally, lower).

So yes, by this standard you are drinking too much.

 

[KurskKnyaz]

This is what i've noticed about how alcohol affects me: a 12oz beer will have no affect on me but if i drink over 16oz I don't sleep well. For some reason, if i sip on 2 shots of tequila or gin before bed I sleep well.

 

[Deeko]

Are your shots double shots? That's a big shot!

You're fine. 1-2 drinks a day is healthy enough.

 

[KurskKnyaz]

BTW gin is really good with sandwiches

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: KurskKnyaz
BTW gin is really good with sandwiches

And mimosas with eggs benedict, or bloody mary's with a breakfast sandwich...

Soon enough, you'll be toasted all day long!

 

[OCGuy]

Damn I'm on track for 73 "units" this week.

 

[StageLeft]

I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

 

[Redfraggle]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

I prefer 21 drinks in one night. Just get them all over with in one foul swoop.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

I prefer 21 drinks in one night. Just get them all over with in one foul swoop.

Intentional?

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: Redfraggle

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

Big surprise - the site linked to is from the UK, which defines higher tolerances for alcohol consumption than the US/Canada. The UK recommends a maximum of 21 units/week, while in Canada and the US, it's only 14/week (for males).

And I agree - if you feel the "need" for it and you can't sleep without it, that's a problem.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: Redfraggle

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

In the big picture three shots a night is fairly insignificant thing to be dependent on. Considering full blown alcoholics can typically consume a gallon or more of hard liquor a day.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

I prefer 21 drinks in one night. Just get them all over with in one foul swoop.

Intentional?

Nice

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk

Originally posted by: Redfraggle

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

In the big picture three shots a night is fairly insignificant thing to be dependent on. Considering full blown alcoholics can typically consume a gallon or more of hard liquor a day.

You can be an alcoholic if you depend on those 3 shots. Amount doesn't matter as much as dependency and addiction.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk

Originally posted by: Redfraggle

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

In the big picture three shots a night is fairly insignificant thing to be dependent on. Considering full blown alcoholics can typically consume a gallon or more of hard liquor a day.

You can be an alcoholic if you depend on those 3 shots. Amount doesn't matter as much as dependency and addiction.

I would say that it matters quite a bit. Nobody ever gets told to go to treatment or ends up in the hospital over 3 drinks a night. If you were raised in a culture that drinks a lot then 3 drinks a night would be quite normal.

If the OP feels like his drinking is a problem then I don't think he needs any mathematical or biological formula to convince him to stop. If he really is only drinking a couple a night out of habit, and not lying that he's drinking until he wakes up in a pool of his own urine, then as an adult what possible harm could there be.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk

Originally posted by: Redfraggle

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

In the big picture three shots a night is fairly insignificant thing to be dependent on. Considering full blown alcoholics can typically consume a gallon or more of hard liquor a day.

You can be an alcoholic if you depend on those 3 shots. Amount doesn't matter as much as dependency and addiction.

I would say that it matters quite a bit. Nobody ever gets told to go to treatment or ends up in the hospital over 3 drinks a night. If you were raised in a culture that drinks a lot then 3 drinks a night would be quite normal.

If the OP feels like his drinking is a problem then I don't think he needs any mathematical or biological formula to convince him to stop. If he really is only drinking a couple a night out of habit, and not lying that he's drinking until he wakes up in a pool of his own urine, then as an adult what possible harm could there be.

I completely agree. Some people drink 3 drinks without thinking twice. If they had to, they could stop drinking altogether. However, there are other people that couldn't stop drinking altogether. There are some people that require the effects of alcohol to relax, to feel better, etc. Those that actually depend on the stuff have a prob. Those that don't are fine. However, I rarely meet people who drink 3 drinks a day that don't have some sort of dependence.

 

[KurskKnyaz]

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk

Originally posted by: Redfraggle

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't believe that website thinks that 21 drinks/week is perfectly ok. That is indeed three/day, which is surely past any kind of a realm of "one drink of red wine/day is good for you". Now, we're not talking drop dead drunk obviously and many people drink that much or more, but 3 drinks each night is flirting with some lower level of alcoholism, IMO, because by then you're really relying on it as part of your wind-down each day.

This. Also, any amount is too much if you feel like you need it or that you can't sleep without it -- it means you are forming some sort of dependency.

In the big picture three shots a night is fairly insignificant thing to be dependent on. Considering full blown alcoholics can typically consume a gallon or more of hard liquor a day.

Sometimes i need clonazepham to sleep. I don't feel like I need it to sleep, i feel like I sleep better with one or two shots