Mum asks if she ‘has a problem’ for enjoying 3 glasses of wine a night – and experts all say the same thing
WE all have our own tips and tricks when it comes to winding down in the evening.
Whether it’s a bubble bath or a box set, most people have their preferred ways to relax.
But one mum took to Facebook to ask if she ‘has a problem’, for enjoying three glasses of wine each evening.
Posting to a parenting group, she asked fellow parents to be kind with their answers and said: “I am just trying to work out if me having a few drinks of an evening would be considered a drinking problem.”
Many people asked her to get help, while others said ‘she can relax how she wants’, the Daily Mail reported.
However, experts have said that this might not always be a healthy option and all say that this mum could be doing more harm than good.
Read more on alcohol
Speaking to The Sun, practising London GP Nikita Patel, who is the associate director at Vitality said there is no ‘safe drinking level’, and added that while there is guidance, research on the topic can be confusing.
Official guidance from the NHS states that you should drink no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
They also advise that you spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week.
Dr Nikita said: “If you drink less than 14 units a week, this is considered to be “low risk” rather than “no risk” drinking.
“While three glasses may not seem much to some, this equates to six units and so is technically classed as ‘binge drinking’ (otherwise known as drinking too much in one single occasion).
“This can be dangerous to our health as alcohol can have a widespread impact on our bodies.”
The guidance states that 14 units is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.
Speaking to The Sun, alcohol coach Sandra Parker of Just The Tonic Coaching said consuming three glasses of wine every night – means this woman is having roughly 35 units of alcohol a week – which is two and a half times more than the upper recommended limit.
‘HARMFUL IMPACT’
She said that while it can be tempting to dismiss government guidelines, this doesn’t diminish the harmful impact.
“Excess drinking can cause damage to many of the body’s organs including the heart liver and the brain.
“And if we take one disease such as cancer, we know the risk of several cancers is higher if you drink alcohol and for breast cancer, the most common cancer in the UK there is no safe amount of alcohol meaning even low consumption of alcohol will increase your risk of breast cancer.”
Sandra said that many people use booze to self medicate, including this woman who is using it to ‘wind down’.
“The initial impact from the first drink will be to produce a dopamine hit which some describe as a ‘fuzzy headed feeling’ or relaxing.
“This can help you relax but it is only a temporary effect and when the alcohol wears off you will feel a low, creating a craving for another drink.
“So, it is a temporary relief which makes you feel worse afterwards.”
Ultimately, you will then become more stressed when the booze wears off, leaving you in a low mood, she said.
“Most people report feeling sluggish the next day, with low energy and less clarity- which usually results in additional stress as they are less able to handle any days to day challenges much less a stressful situation,” the expert added.
Dr Nikita added that booze can impact our sleep and also ups the likelihood of us having an accident.
“If you often feel the need to have a drink, get into trouble because of your drinking, think your drinking is causing you problems or other people have suggested you may be drinking too much or even if you simply just want to cut down, it could be time to speak to someone about your drinking habits.
“Your GP is a great first point of contact as they’ll be able to talk to you and work with you to figure out what the best options for support are available,” she said.
Where to get help if you have a problem with alcohol
If you think you might have a problem with booze then you may need to seek help.
This might be the case if you often feel the need to have a drink or if you get into trouble because of your drinking.
If other people have warned you about your drink and it’s causing you problems then a good place to start is your GP.
There are other places you can go to get help:
- Drinkline: Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
- AA – a free self help group that follows the 12 step programme
- Al-Anon Family Groups – a group for friends and family members impacted by drinking
- We Are With You – for individuals, families and communities struggling – call 0808 8010 750 – if you’re over 50 and worried about booze
- Adfam – local support groups and message boards
- National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) – call 0800 358 3456
- SMART Recovery – to help people discover if they have a problem
The reason units are recommended, is to help us stick to a healthy, balanced diet.
Nutritionist Signe Svanfeldt, from Lifesum said booze provides around seven calories per gram but no other nutrients.
“In essence, it’s just energy and does not provide any nutrient value beyond that.
“A healthy diet should incorporate as much nutrient density as possible, for example, fruits, veggies and whole grains vs. foods that are calories only.
“When we consume alcoholic beverages, we also tend to make less nutritious choices overall, and go for food that are not nutrient rich such as fast foods, sugary dense food and savoury snacks,” the expert explained.
She also explained that some booze will contain sugar, which can raise your blood sugar levels.
“Moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, but once the body starts to process the alcohol, it can actually cause a hypoglycaemic effect.
“This is due to blood sugar dropping dramatically because alcohol keeps the liver from releasing glucose. This sets the stage for them to overconsume carbohydrate foods to compensate for the drop in blood sugar. A calorie-filled roller coaster can lead to weight gain.”