Drinking habits...

[VelvetDarkness]

So, there's a lot in the media over here about binge/extreme drinking, especially during the summer vacation season. The experts suggest that most of us binge drink frequently and that even those of us over 30 drink too much wine with meals and so on. So, for those brave enough to bare their fridge/drinks cabinet, I'm curious about people's drinking habits.

In the UK, a unit of alcohol is defined as 10 millilitres (or approximately 8 grams) of ethanol (ethyl alcohol). This is approximately the amount of ethanol an average healthy adult can break down in an hour.

Units

• A half pint (284 ml) of ordinary strength (3.5-4% abv) beer contains 1 unit.
• A 500 ml can/bottle of standard lager (5%) contains 2.5 units.
• A small glass (175 ml) of 12% abv wine contains 2 units. A large glass (250ml) contains 3.
• A 750 ml bottle of 12% wine contains 9 units.
• A 25ml measure of a spirit (40% abv) contains 1 unit.

UK NHS guidelines state that a man should consume no more than 21 units per week and a woman should consume no more than 14. They also state that a man should have no more than 4 units per day and a woman should have no more than 3. Drinking more than 5 units in succession is deemed to be binge drinking.

So... my question is, how many units do people here consume in an average week and how much of that is drunk all in one night or just at the weekend?

Also, if people have stopped drinking altogether due to a previous problem with alcohol, I'd be interested to hear your stories too, if you'd like to share.

I'd also welcome comments on changes in culture from those older and wiser than I. Haven't young people always got too drunk and been a bit stupid with it? Has there really been a huge change in our drinking habits?

Totally unrelated poll to follow

 

[VelvetDarkness]

This is not a public poll btw, your guilty secrets are safe with me.

 

[the captians wench]

right now I have a small bottle of mead (375ml, 12% apv) in my fridge and 3 baileys minis (100ml, 17% apv).

That size bottle of mead, for me, will provide between 4 and 5 glasses. The mini's I really could break into two servings each, but I bought it with the intention of having something harder to drink that night so I downed the whole little bottle.

I normally won't have more than one glass of mead in any given night, and normally won't drink more than once a week. This week I've induldged two nights.

I'm a pretty light drinker. With my sugar issues, I get the same effect from a candy bar, so I tend to go for the chocolate before the alcohol.

 

[OldGuy1026]

Actually I did a really bad one. Got drunk at a party, a sixteen year old girl was teasing me, so I gave her an over the knee spanking right there. Her Mother still has the picture. I think she was ready to blackmail both of us, but actually as a Berlin Bohemian, she has a different reason.

The girl was suddenly turned on to "the scene" she went off to learn about herself and much more. She became my Mistress, gave me to my wife, and is still a good friend.

Sounds kinky but true. Don't mix drinks and kinks.

 

[MisterSir]

The best way I can describe my drinking pattern is "lots of it at irregular intervals". Case in point, the last time I drank was this time last month, during which I imbibed twenty-six units. It's like BDSM, I'm still learning my limits.

 

[Cattypuss]

Half a bottle of wine makes me mellow. More makes me drunk. Many's the time I've engaged in non-risky BDSM with half a bottle plus dinner inside me (the other half bottle and the other plateful of dinner being inside him at the time). If we are planning anything at all risky or new or extreme, it's done stone-cold sober.

 

[Homburg]

I'd also welcome comments on changes in culture from those older and wiser than I. Haven't young people always got too drunk and been a bit stupid with it? Has there really been a huge change in our drinking habits?

Totally unrelated poll to follow

I don't drink. That said, thinking back to my own youth, the kids that drank a lot were talked about, and the fact that they were talked about was indicative of the rarity. The stories I hear these days cause me to think that teen drinking is more common. I don't know that I would say it is some sort of epidemic or cultural malaise, but it certainly seems to figure more highly in the stories of both today's youth and their worried parents. This has to be taken with a grain of salt, of course, as people puff up their own exploits all the time and hysterical parents worry about shadows under the bed, but there is likely a grain, if you will, of truth to it.

As to your poll, not personally, no. I do not do any sort of play if I've had alcohol. I refuse, as I have no desire to cause serious harm, and I know what my hands are capable of. I have played with bottoms that have imbibed, but not heavily. Alcohol mucks with your ability to read your own body's messages, and a drunk bottom is a gateway to an injured bottom, as they won't be able to provide accurate feedback. And any sort of edgeplay is flat out for the same reasons.

So I won't do anything if I have imbibed, and will only play with someone else if they are similarly straight, or at least have only tippled a little, as it were.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

I don't drink. That said, thinking back to my own youth, the kids that drank a lot were talked about, and the fact that they were talked about was indicative of the rarity. The stories I hear these days cause me to think that teen drinking is more common. I don't know that I would say it is some sort of epidemic or cultural malaise, but it certainly seems to figure more highly in the stories of both today's youth and their worried parents. This has to be taken with a grain of salt, of course, as people puff up their own exploits all the time and hysterical parents worry about shadows under the bed, but there is likely a grain, if you will, of truth to it.

As to your poll, not personally, no. I do not do any sort of play if I've had alcohol. I refuse, as I have no desire to cause serious harm, and I know what my hands are capable of. I have played with bottoms that have imbibed, but not heavily. Alcohol mucks with your ability to read your own body's messages, and a drunk bottom is a gateway to an injured bottom, as they won't be able to provide accurate feedback. And any sort of edgeplay is flat out for the same reasons.

So I won't do anything if I have imbibed, and will only play with someone else if they are similarly straight, or at least have only tippled a little, as it were.

Have you always been teetotal, or you mean no drinking and play? What motivated your decision not to drink?

 

[Netzach]

As to the poll nothing involving precision implements. Hands and teeth and stuff are fun when buzzed.

I enjoy a buzz periodically and it takes almost nothing for me to get one on, but I don't have to do that every week or weekend, I don't notice when weeks pass and I haven't had a glass of wine or anything.

 

[missginger2177]

When I think of teen drinking habits, I'm reminded forcibly of my senior prom in high school. I went to a Catholic high school (yes, I wore the stupid skirts for 13 years of schooling). We had a lot of kids that were from what can be loosely described as 'privileged' backgrounds. For example, two of my classmates came from the union of two doctors of various specializations. One guy's parents owned the largest chain of car dealerships in a three-county area. These were my classmates.

Anyway, it was somewhat standard for decent sized groups of kids to go to prom together. Some of these would get limos (pretty normal). However, these privileged kids had parents that not only paid for limos and dinner, but they also gave the drivers a couple of thousand dollars with the instruction to get the eighteen year-olds in the back whatever they wanted. I know of at least three different cases of this for my prom alone. We had one kid that was confronted by the vice principal as he was entering. He lashed out. Knocked out our VP and had to be forcibly removed by four police officers. He blew a .23 and they took him to get his stomach pumped.

Don't know if this is what you were looking for at all, but teens do drink and often to excess if my high school is any indication. The biggest thing I take away from this experience (I actually witnessed the fight) is that the parents were obviously to blame, and they didn't seem to care.

Myself, I drink socially. I'll go sit with friends at the bar and laugh at them while they get blasted. But, I've never in my life gone so far as to have a buzz. It's just not something that interests me after growing up with (and getting beat by) alcoholic parents. And, it's always Uncle Jacky for me.

 

[Primalex]

I drank socially as teenager and stopped then completely. I do use alcohol for cooking though.

 

[yourmissl]

How do any teenagers make it to adulthood???

When I think back to my teens & early 20's I'm sometimes amazed any of us made it through alive.

These days I rarely imbibe. My children's father is an alcoholic, which has made the whole idea rather repellent. (Those of you who have dealt with this issue can probably understand.) We usually vacation in either the south of France or Tuscany in the summer, however, and I like to have a glass of regional wine. Of course, since its so rare, half of a glass makes me silly.

cheers,
linds

 

[ShyGuy68]

So... my question is, how many units do people here consume in an average week and how much of that is drunk all in one night or just at the weekend?

On a day to day basis I hardly ever drink alcohol. I can have a 6 pack of beers for a very long time from time to time. But it's a totally other story when I now and then have friends over or go out with them. Then it can happen that we do get quite a bit to drink, wether it be shots, drinks, cocktails, beers or wine. But it's not something that happens that often. Now and then I do also get a glass of wine for my meal, even on a weeknight. I'm pretty good at holding my liquor, and hardly ever forget what have happened during those evenings. But yes I do get a bit hung over though!

I'll also admit that when I'm on vacation, I'll often relax more often with a beer or wine as well

 

[graceanne]

Occasionally. Depends, though. I've discovered I'm picky. I love margaritas, but they don't love me. (Hard alcohol is a no-no for crohnies.) I like wine, but I'm picky. I used to think I don't like wine, but I've learned I do! LOL

Either way, I might drink a glass (or less) of wine on the very rare occasion K and I go to a restaurant that isn't a buffet.

 

[Keroin]

I like to have a martini,
two at the most,
three I'm under the table,
four I'm under the host.

(Thank you Dorothy Parker)

Had one binge night, when I was 18, and I've never let myself go that far again. I woke up in a dress I definitely didn't go out in, covered from head to toe with chocolate icing, and my room mates staring at me with enigmatic expressions. They later filled me in on my night - the last part I remember was crawling out a fourth storey window pretending I was a spy escaping the KGB.

Now? Gin martini a couple times a week.

 

[MisterSir]

They later filled me in on my night - the last part I remember was crawling out a fourth storey window pretending I was a spy escaping the KGB.

In fairness, that sounds like something I'd do completely sober. I have, if anybody's played Gears of War, done the "Roadie Run" down the street at about eight in the evening.

 

[nh23]

I have engaged in rough sex while drinking. Never any kind of scene. That being said I rarely ever drink. The last time was two years ago. I have stomach ulcers and alcohol kills my stomach.

It's also just lost it's appeal for me as I get older.

 

[00Syd]

Maybe its just my foolish youth speaking, but I feel like as long as people understand their personal limits and are responsible people as a whole, then no biggie as far as play goes. If I trust the person, and I know that they know when to stop, and what they can and can't do, then I really don't have a problem with it.

 

[the captians wench]

I some times wonder if I missed out on something by not going on wild drinking binges or parties as a teen. I always was the responcible one. Didn't have my first drink until I was legal to, and still have never been trashed.

Then again, as I was saying to a co-worker, more than one glass of wine with out a high protien meal and I'm knocked cold with in the hour.

 

[MisterSir]

Maybe its just my foolish youth speaking, but I feel like as long as people understand their personal limits and are responsible people as a whole, then no biggie as far as play goes. If I trust the person, and I know that they know when to stop, and what they can and can't do, then I really don't have a problem with it.

I'm not saying it should be like driving a car, but mixing anything more than a unit with BDSM - especially the more attention-intensive activities - just seems like a bad idea in general. We are pretty fragile creatures, after all.

 

[Keroin]

In fairness, that sounds like something I'd do completely sober.

Well, completely sober, it's actually one of my tamer activities. It's the being blotto'd part that made it edgy.

I also kidnapped a pedi cab driver once while tipsy...but I remember that incident.

There's also a night club in Vancouver I was...ahem...not welcome at for awhile. So, you cover one the walls of your club with nice, climbable rocks and then you're surprised when someone actually climbs it? Please.

 

[Netzach]

Maybe its just my foolish youth speaking, but I feel like as long as people understand their personal limits and are responsible people as a whole, then no biggie as far as play goes. If I trust the person, and I know that they know when to stop, and what they can and can't do, then I really don't have a problem with it.

One of the best physical players I knew was a total lush. I'd let her singletail me wasted before I'd let most people touch me stone cold sober.

It takes all kinds.

 

[BiBunny]

I'll bottom buzzed or drunk, but I won't top if I've had more than one or two. I won't top after I've bottomed, either, for much the same reasons.

I'm one of those people who won't drink for months and then will get totally shitfaced one night and not drink again for several more months. I'm a happy drunk.

 

[graceanne]

One of the best physical players I knew was a total lush. I'd let her singletail me wasted before I'd let most people touch me stone cold sober.

It takes all kinds.

Pretty much. Some people I would not let top me drunk. K I will and have. For one thing, he's got one HELL of an alcohol tolerance - he started drinking at 12 years old. It takes him a six pack of his fancy beer to even get a buzz. For another, he's still a bit uncomfortable with his sadistic urges, and a buzz will help lower his inhibitions enough for us to have fun. Some of the best sex we've ever had he was buzzed for.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

How is it that I have more votes on here for cookies than for anything else? Should have known better.

So I suppose I should 'fess up.

I'm beginning to realise that I'm quite a heavy drinker. I have half a bottle of wine a couple of times a week and I can drink half a bottle of spirits on a sociable weekend. I'm in the habit of drinking larger measures than I probably should. Given the cost of booze in my stealth-tax happy nation, it seems like a waste of cash if I don't get at least a little buzzed and half a bottle of wine with a meal will do that. Master's a drinker too, as are his parents. He's cut back a lot lately though as he's dieting and trying to save cash. My Irish family on my father's side are about 60% hardcore alcholic, no exaggeration. I have a virtually indestructible liver and have never suffered a hangover - which is probably not a good thing.

I probably average 20 units a week. Was a bit shocked when I worked that one out.

Master and I have had rough sex after drinking plenty of times. We'd never do anything elaborate and he wouldn't use implements on me if we'd been drinking. I've never felt unsafe or at risk but then, tipsy sex is no time for envelope nudging.

I started drinking at about 15. Somebody would get an older sibling to buy a 3L bottle of high strength cider (8%) and we'd sit in a park and share it. At uni, everyone drank quite a lot and booze in student union bars & the NHS Social Club was stupidly cheap. A pint of white lightening (50% lager, 50% cider) was just £1 (USA$1.60). I dread to think what I got through some nights. I could hold my drink better back then though.

So I guess I'm realising my own drinking level is less than healthy. It's been a bit of a face-palm moment given that I'm an ex nurse but I just never sat down and added it up before. I'm not drunk all that often but I'm merry fairly regularly.

Might be time for a rethink now I've hit 30. I have a different attitude to life than a lot of people though. I have a 50/50 chance of getting the HD my mum had (click sig pic for info) and a quality-of-life expectancy of around 50 years old. It does make me a little reckless and more inclined to sieze the moment. I hadn't realised till now how much that had affected things like my drinking habits.

So I'm dragging you along on my voyage of introspection.