Not necessarily talking about alcoholism (i.e. compulsive, self-destructive usage and/or physical dependence), but just excessive drinking as far as what's considered acceptable, health effects, and so on. The general consensus among doctors in the US is like 2 drinks a day being the max, but you know they gotta be really conservative about that shit, I mean you know how they are with OTC dosages. Plus they have to give an estimate across the board, taking elderly people and other more vulnerable types into account, not just healthy guys in their 20s like me.

Am I out of line for having, say, 4-6 drinks a night on average, taking breaks occasionally? I rarely drink to get shitfaced or drown my sorrows, just to unwind after work and whatnot. This is also usually beer and I'm a pretty tall guy so it's not like I'm even getting much of a buzz from this, just some relaxation. Once in awhile I do drink a lot more and get stone drunk, but not nearly as often as I did in college.

I'm posting this because my girlfriend thinks I'm a drunk and I feel that she's just a lightweight. On nights I don't drink, I don't have any real withdrawal symptoms, just takes longer to get to sleep and I feel a little bored -- about the same "withdrawal" as quitting weed.

Is it such a crime to drink on a nightly basis on this level? And how long until my liver hates me in a significant way?

I think it is fine to have like 3 or 4 drinks a night, for a guy. As long as you have like 2 non drinking days a week. ANd you don't binge on the weekends.

Is it such a crime to drink on a nightly basis on this level?

I sure hope not. Your intake seems about the same as mine for the past month. I'd hardly consider myself a drunk.

However, I am in college and taking summer classes with a relatively easy schedule at the moment, so this current situation wont extend past the beginning of fall semester.

If it helps you sleep and enjoy your day more, and you are not affecting anyone's but your own health I don't see how this could be a problem. Granted, alcohol every day is going to have some effect on your body no matter what--you're just going to have to decide how much you're comfortable with.

Tell your girlfriend that to be a drunk, you'd have to be getting drunk, which at 4-6 beers I doubt you are. Drinking a few beers after work to wind down isn't excessive drinking.

As long as it doesn't get to the point where you have to have it, you're getting too drunk, or it's causing problems in your work and social life then you're fine.

Just don't get into a routine of drinking at the same time everyday, that's how alcoholism starts (i.e. my parents).

1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila , FLOOR!

That was fucking gay.

Agreed.

I'm sorry i could not resist

New Arrival

Neither could I.

Neither could I.

I don't think anyone can resist anymore.

N What do you consider to be excessive drinking?

Uh, 20 to 30 bucks worth of booze, every day for 2 months, 40 day minimum.

*hick up*

sup summer?

I don't think anyone can resist anymore.

Rambo is pretty tight though. First Blood was the best one I think.

First Blood was awesome, Part 2 was not the same though i did like the action. and i haven't seen the new one since Movieforumz went offline.

Just don't get into a routine of drinking at the same time everyday, that's how alcoholism starts (i.e. my parents).

Well, I do drink at the same time every day -- in the evening, chill time. To me though, it seems more like alcoholic behavior to drink throughout the day, that would affect your work and daily interactions more, and create a situation of having alcohol in your system much of the time.

I forgot to mention, alcoholism does run in my family a little though (my father was a functional alcoholic, and one of my maternal uncles is a straight up reeking "village idiot" type drunk), which is another reason I'm asking about this.

That is not excessive drinking by any means, that is called relaxation. It only becomes a problem when you have to drink to make it through the day. You know, waking up and getting drunk, and drinking till you go to sleep. I mean even drinking when you wake up isin't bad unless you wake up and get hammered. Really unless it is causing family/social problems or your staggering around drunk at all the wrong times I wouldnt worry about it. As far as you're health, I know drinking everyday is bad for your brain and liver. But I dont know, is it really any worse than smoking a pack of ciggs a day? Is it enjoyable enough that you would trade a few years off your life for a few drinks every day?

It is considered "binge drinking" if you have more then 5 drinks in 2 hours.

Well, I do drink at the same time every day -- in the evening, chill time. To me though, it seems more like alcoholic behavior to drink throughout the day, that would affect your work and daily interactions more, and create a situation of having alcohol in your system much of the time.

I forgot to mention, alcoholism does run in my family a little though (my father was a functional alcoholic, and one of my maternal uncles is a straight up reeking "village idiot" type drunk), which is another reason I'm asking about this.

My mom started out having a glass of wine or 2 in the afternoon to relax when she got off work, this eventually rolled into 6 or big cups of wine and a few more of bourbon and coke almost every single night. People who get drunk frequently are the most annoying fucking thing in the world to me when they're drunk.

Different people, different reactions. I'm just telling you how it is on my side of the mountain. Just keep yourself in check and maybe smoke some bud instead some nights to mix it up a bit.

But that also comes from the same people who say your a marijuana addict if you occasionally smoke pot. 5 drinks in 2 hours isin't nearly fast enough, if you went at that rate you would have a hard time getting drunk.

It only takes you three shots of tequila to make you fall over drunk?
Lucky, I guess.

But that also comes from the same people who say your a marijuana addict if you occasionally smoke pot. 5 drinks in 2 hours isin't nearly fast enough, if you went at that rate you would have a hard time getting drunk.

While I agree with the point you're making, multiply that timeline by 2 and you'll have a hard time saying you're not pretty buzzed. Increase the frequency to about 7/2hr and you're on your way to blackout with the right party.

Whilst there's evidence that drinking some alcohol makes you less susceptible to risk of stroke/heart attack and possibly some neurological n mental problems. It's really hard to say though, cos people's ability to tolerate alcohol varies. Definitely not drinking doesn't seem to have any significant benefits to health... that's been kinda showed in some studies.

I guess excessive drinking is when it really affects the way you're living your life, your relationships, your finances and day-to-day-decisions, for me. I guess I think you can drink at a level which is "excessive" in that it may harm your health, but you can still be happy, functioning and capable of taking days off. Drinking every single day, day in, day out, isn't something that appeals to me personally, although I guess I do drink a fair bit (majority of days in a week, but with breaks and stuff). It's the way a drink becomes such a "necessary" part of a day which means things are maybe a bit worth thinking over...

It's definitely been shown that getting really really drunk on occasion can be more damaging to your health than moderate regular drinking, plus if when you go out, you really really get drunk, socialising becomes quite linked with alcohol. If someone feels serious social issues if they are sober around others, then that could be "excessive" drinking in some ways, regardless of amount. I don't know really... in some countries in Europe, alcohol as a drink rather than just a way to get drunk is more in the social mindset, considering traditions of drinking alcohol when water wasn't always clean etc. England's a bit of a mix on that one.... as we do get pretty drunk, but some people still view it as only a social thing, with the aim of getting as pissed as possible top priority. Personally I don't like being really drunk, but if I go a week or two without any cider/wine/beer/whatever, I do really miss a drink.. :)

Ive been drinking every other day or so for the past few weeks (usually 6-10 drinks a night) and I'd probably consider that excessive drinking to be honest. If you were to drink every other day for the rest of your life that would more then likely lead you to an early death bed.

But when it comes down to it, whatever makes you feel happy with, and whatever you feel works for you is the way to go.

i really only drink at parties... its not a good thing when i say "im going to get shit faced tonight"....

downing god knows how much out of a handle of vodka, smoking a bowl, drinking beer because of the cotton mouth... i think it was 5 beers after chugging that vodka when the puking and passing out started.... i couldn't stand up on my own, all basic motor function in my legs was gone... eventually 3 people drug me up the stairs to the bathroom where i proceeded to empty out the contents of my stomach, and then lead me to a mattress to pass out on for the night... i woke up 10 hours later in a daze, not quite yet noticing my hangover, i stumbled out the back door through the kitchen where the kids mom was cooking dinner and got into my car to leave... came home, puked, passed out, puked... hangover lasted for 36 hours...

the point where im near alcohol poisoning is where excessive drinking qualifies...

Well yeah man, that's excessive one-time drinking, for real. I think anyone who was ever into partying has been there at some point, going way over the edge and getting punished for it. I've never had a 36 hour hangover though, I mean fucking shit, at that point I'd probably just go to the ER and claim I had food poisoning.

Tip: with liquor, don't drink out of bottles, take shots with your friends and force them to match you. Then at least if you end up going over the edge, you have someone to die with, instead of being the one guy at the party who shits his pants and makes everyone freak out.

Anyway I'm talking about light-to-moderate daily drinking though, I no longer seek oblivion when I drink.

I really don't enjoy alcohol. So I don't drink.

It sucks when everyone is drinking and acting stupid and I'm left out though. Goddamn society ... :(

3-4 drinks every night ain't too bad.

I didn't know there were any black guys in my state...

oh and on topic OP, I think that's not something to be immediately worried about, but it certainly is possible it will lead to you wanting more drinks per night, which could lead to full blown wasteyness every night... but if it's just a routine for a few drinks/beers a night every night, plenty of people do that and don't have a problem and it doesn't sound like you do either...

I don't want to be a downer, but no matter how you dress it up, drinking everyday is the behavior of an addict. I'm from a big irish-catholic family thats absolutely drenched in spirits (an ambulance had to be called to my cousins wedding this spring), and I've struggled with alcoholism since I was 15. The most dangerous thing about drinking is that the evolution of a drunk is a slow and steady process, filled with justification and self-deception, and they come in all different types. I have some aunts, uncles and cousins that stay functionally drunk 24/7, some that seem like totally normal people until they're at any sort of function or gathering with alcohol present, and then turn into stumbling drunk messes. Others do what you do, and wait for their happy hour to drink in relative moderation. These people are still drunks even though they'd never admit it, and I have to admit that it's difficult to explain the effect their habit has on family/friends.

I'm not saying that you are anything like the members of my drunken clan, I'm just automatically concerned when I see someone who could possibly be headed down the same path I've watched literally dozens of people go down.

I can always drink a forty when I get out of work. That should be every americans right, Hell Im drunk right now.

Man the flow's so cold chicken soup won't help

Well yeah man, that's excessive one-time drinking, for real. I think anyone who was ever into partying has been there at some point, going way over the edge and getting punished for it. I've never had a 36 hour hangover though, I mean fucking shit, at that point I'd probably just go to the ER and claim I had food poisoning.

Tip: with liquor, don't drink out of bottles, take shots with your friends and force them to match you. Then at least if you end up going over the edge, you have someone to die with, instead of being the one guy at the party who shits his pants and makes everyone freak out.

Anyway I'm talking about light-to-moderate daily drinking though, I no longer seek oblivion when I drink.

they were just freaked because i was near the keg when i started puking... and by that point it was the 2nd empty keg we had there....

i haven't had that much to drink since last November... me and my step brother polished off half a bottle of 50% peppermint schnapps and it got me drunk but i still managed to walk to the car to be driven home... I learned that when im drinking hard liquor if i drink water while im drinking alcohol i hardly get any hangover...