I’m a f in my twenties and I just started drinking two years ago. I’m a lightweight and usually don’t drink more than 1-2 drinks a week. However every now and then I engage in binge drinking and would drink like 3-5 drinks in a day. This has only happened like 3 times this year so far. My mother isn’t the happiest about this and says it’s the beginning of alcoholism. I like drinking casually but don’t want to become an alcoholic. Is this a normal amount for someone my age?
Should I stop drinking?
r/Advice
Comments
I’m a 20 year old male and drink a lot. I don’t rely on it, but I understand if I continue my habits I could end up a dependence on alcohol. 3-5 drinks every so often is not much at all, but your mother is right, it could devolve into alcoholism, if you don’t keep an eye on it. If you notice the frequency or amount of drinks increase by next year, then just simply cut back. I find drinking is a great tool to socialise, but I use it as a wind down after a long day of work. Another key factor is to not drink as a means of bad mental health, drinking only causes your mental health to worsen, even if it temporarily numbs any psychological pain. Never drink if you’re upset about something, only drink for fun or to chill.
Good luck.
Well, the average person doesn’t wonder if they’re headed down the road to alcoholism, so I’d say maybe pump the breaks a little.
1-2 drinks a week is perfectly fine. 3-5 drinks in a day once in a while can be… okay. But again, most people aren’t binge-drinking at all. You also used a peculiar choice of words here;
“It’s only happened…” versus “I’ve only done it…”
Things happen TO you. This is a bit of a stretch, but talking about it like that— even unconsciously— is a little telling. Are those binge days happening to you, or are you choosing them…?
I consider binge drinking more than 10.
1-2 is not drinking. It is a glass of wine with dinner. And 2-3 is hardly drinking.
While drinking won’t be doing much for your health, I think more rest of your week is far more important than the couple of drinks you have. Are you in shape, exercising, eating healthy, or are you 200 pounds eating junk food worrying about your 2 beers.
If you are otherwise treating your body like a temple, it would be natural to worry about the drinking. But if you are as sloppy as the average Joe, worrying about your few drinks is nonsensical, like a guy who beats his wife wondering if he should buy her flowers more often.
Most likely what is happening is your mother is worried because of someone she knows or something she experienced. I wouldn’t worry
I guess it depends. 3 or 5 drinks in my opinion isnt really a binge.
What are you like drunk? Does it impact your life negatively? Why do you drink?
Like you I only drink maybe every few months and when I do it gets pretty messy but I don’t consider it a problem. I’m not dependant on it, I’ve still got alcohol in the house left over from Christmas I’ve not touched.
I’m a very sociable happy drunk so its not like im getting into fights or being aggressive or anything
And I drink because sometimes its just fun to go out friends and get hammered.
Basically if its not harming you or anyone else, and it’s not a regular habit, who cares, go have fun
Edit: I probably should say the drinking age limit where I am is 18 so a 20 year old going out drinking isnt unusual
At the ages of 18-22 I was out almost every weekend without fail, getting insanely drunk, taking things I shouldn’t take and without fail end up around someone’s house with loads of others till 7am.
It got to the point I was getting home at 6-7 then going to work for 9 or just not turning up. I started buying drugs, ended up with connections of people I never thought I’d ever deal with, developed a smoking habit just to chat shit in the smoking area, then when all was said and done I would have no money, say never again and do it the week after.
One day I got so mortally drunk I don’t remember anything, I had cut knuckles, bruises and cuts on my head and face, I asked in my group chat and found out I was fighting and a horrible angry drunk that night, so I stopped. I haven’t been drunk for 5 years and don’t miss it one bit.
Drinking can be a good time, but what most don’t realise is the drink is an escape, if you find yourself doing it more and more the escape becomes every day life. My advice is live your life, enjoy it, but don’t let it take over you or become a common occurrence
Going as far as 3 to 5 drinks three times this year so far is nothing close to being a problem by any measure that I’m aware of. But hey, you’re your own person so it depends on whatever you think. I drink only on weekends, and I typically get somewhat drunk once a week.