Many people drink alcohol recreationally when they are celebrating, socialising, or unwinding. After work, some people enjoy a beer or glass of wine. But determining whether or not drinking every night is harmful might be tricky. It usually depends on the circumstances of the individual.
It’s critical to remember that alcohol is a controlled substance. Moderate drinking has been linked to specific benefits in several studies. Red wine, for example, is recognised to be good for the heart when consumed in moderation. On the other hand, different studies show no benefits and link moderate drinking to diseases such as breast cancer and an increased risk of stroke.
Drinking in moderation is having no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
Moderate drinking limits for men and women
When it comes to upper limits for healthy adults, men are advised not to consume more than four drinks in one day or 14 per week. Women are recommended not to drink more than three alcoholic beverages in one day or seven per week.
When it comes to upper limits for healthy people, males should not consume more than four drinks in a single day or fourteen drinks each week. Women should not consume more than three alcoholic beverages in a single day or seven alcoholic beverages per week.
Medical professionals consider heavy or at-risk drinking if you consume more than these levels. This means you’re more likely to have health problems as a result of it. An alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects about one out of every four people who drink more than the recommended amount. This comes with all the associated health risks.
When should you not drink alcohol?
You should avoid alcohol entirely if you are:
Taking any medications that interact with alcohol
Living with a disease or condition that could worsen with alcohol consumption
Planning to drive a vehicle or operate any machinery
You might be asking if drinking every night is an early symptom of alcoholism. Although the answer is not always yes, it is something to examine.
After work, unwinding with a cold beer or glass of wine can be a soothing way to unwind. However, if you’re “relaxing” seven days a week, you might wonder, “Am I an alcoholic?”
The answer is not necessarily, but it is something to keep an eye on because, according to specialists, it could be one of the early indicators of alcoholism or alcohol dependence.
While there are many variables, having a drink every night does not always imply that you have an alcohol use disorder. Still, it can raise your chances of developing alcohol-related health problems.
When it comes to drinking, how much alcohol is too much?
The term “too much” is subjective, meaning it varies from person to person. For some individuals, one drink a day may be too much. For others, it could be 2 to 3 drinks a day.
These are the guidelines proposed by the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs):
Adults of legal age who choose to drink alcohol should limit their intake of alcohol to 2 drinks or fewer per day for men and 1 drink or fewer per day for women.
This is not intended as an average amount of alcohol intake over many days—but rather as the recommended limit on alcohol consumption on any single day.
It’s also important to note that if drinking every night leads to binge drinking and more frequent consumption or the inability to cut back, this could be an early sign of alcoholism or alcohol dependence.
It is important to remember that a person with an alcohol dependency doesn’t have to be someone who appears unkempt, whose life is in turmoil and who drinks all day. This isn’t the only way to look at things. An alcoholic can have a solid career, a social life, and be surrounded by family and friends while still being an alcoholic. An alcoholic may also just drink in the evenings.
If your alcohol intake has escalated and is beginning to have an impact on your life, it may be imperative to evaluate your drinking habits more closely.
Warning signs of problem drinking
Here are some of the common signs of alcoholism to think about:
Experiencing more and more negative consequences as a result of your drinking, such as upsetting the family or feeling increasingly guilty or ashamed
Drinking to the point where you ‘black out’ and can’t remember the night before, including conversations or behaviours. You may try to find out what happened by dropping hints or only remember when someone reminds you
Feeling embarrassed about the amount that you drink
Needing a drink before you go out in case there isn’t enough. You may have also noticed that other people don’t drink in the same way as you
Lying to others or hiding your drinking from others
Drinking more than you intended on doing in the evening
Finding that you are drinking to relieve stress or to relax
Prioritising your drinking above your responsibilities, like family, work and hobbies
Wanting to cut down or stop drinking every night but being unable to
If you have an urge to drink every night or to get through a social occasion, unpleasant scenario, or personal struggle, this could be an indication of psychological dependency. This serious problem must be addressed, just like a physical addiction.
You may believe that you are not becoming intoxicated while drinking a lot of alcohol in one evening. This could indicate that you have an alcohol problem.
There’s also evidence that regular heavy alcohol consumption can make your mental health worse. The effects of alcohol on your health will depend on how much you drink. The less you drink, the lower the health risks. Regular excessive drinking can lead to the development of an alcohol tolerance, which means you’ll need to drink more and more to feel the benefits.
If you’ve noticed that you need to drink to avoid withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating, or tremors, this could be an indication of physical addiction. It’s critical to understand that abruptly stopping to drink without first seeing your doctor is risky.
How to stop drinking alcohol
You may have become concerned about your drinking habits after spending time searching online for information on how to stop drinking alcohol every night.
This text will assist you in determining whether or not your drinking is a cause for concern. We’ll also look at various techniques for quitting drinking every night, ranging from at-home tactics to professional help and treatment. The approach that is best for you will be determined by a variety of factors.
Strategies to help you stop drinking alcohol every night
If you don’t have an alcohol dependency or addiction, there are a few steps you can take in the evenings to help you stop drinking every night:
Introduce a new evening routine – write out a plan for each evening that contains activities to keep your mind busy so that you are less likely to feel the urge to drink.
Keep a dry house – if you have been drinking daily, it is likely that you have done so in your home. Get rid of any alcohol in your house to reduce the temptation.
Tell people that you aren’t drinking alcohol every night – if people are aware that you’re cutting back, they will be more likely to help you do so.
Focus on the benefits – stopping drinking alcohol has numerous benefits. It can free up your time, improve your health, help you to sleep better and save you money.
Address the reasons why you’ve drinking – take some time to consider what you can do if you’ve been drinking due to your job, relationship, stress or anxiety, low self-esteem, or the past. There are things you can do to help you feel better, whether it’s looking for a new career or seeking professional treatment to deal with certain issues.If you find that you are unable to stop consuming alcohol every night, despite your best efforts, this may indicate that you require professional help to handle your present alcohol addiction. Some options are available for outpatient therapy, day sessions at a treatment facility, and residential treatment programmes. There is no shame in needing a helping hand from time to time.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
All forms of alcohol abuse are incredibly destructive. In order to deal with this issue, which is starting to become entrenched in daily life, it is recommended that you seek external professional support.
At Compare Rehab UK, we can guide you in choosing various treatment options for alcohol abuse. These are some of those options:
Detoxification – The detoxification process, which is frequently combined with the Addiction Treatment Programme, offers you a safe setting in which to rid your body of alcohol, with medical and nursing professionals on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programmes – residential programmes give you the time and space away from your daily routine to really think about why you drink and how you might begin to live a life free of alcohol in the future. They address the mental, physical, and emotional factors that underpin alcoholism. You will start to understand the causes and triggers for your alcohol use through seminars, workshops, therapy sessions, and individual time, as well as develop strategies for living a life free of addiction.
Day care treatment programmes –day care programmes are available at many rehabilitation centres and are recommended for those who do not require detoxification or residential treatment. You will learn how to achieve and maintain abstinence through therapy sessions and educational courses. People who have completed residential treatment also use day care programmes as a support system as they transition from rehabilitation to home life.
Outpatient treatment – you can also attend therapy sessions to learn and manage your triggers, work through your reasons for drinking, and learn coping methods to help you live a better and happier life once again.
Counselling and Behavioural Therapies – behavioural treatment options include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing the thought processes that lead to drinking; Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), which focuses on identifying the benefits and drawbacks of seeking treatment, developing a plan, building confidence, and developing skills to stick to the plan; Marital, family and individual counselling; and other brief interventions.
Medication – a primary care physician or other health professionals can prescribe medication to help people stop or limit their drinking. For the treatment of alcoholism, three drugs have been approved: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.
Support Groups – Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step groups bring people together to support one another as they quit or reduce their drinking. These groups are used in conjunction with behavioural therapies.
If you or someone you know is concerned that regular drinking is becoming a problem in your life, there are several resources available to assist you.
Admitting that you have an alcohol problem is a huge step, and you should be proud of yourself for taking it. The next step is getting help and focusing on resolving the issues you’re facing. It would help if you also spoke with your doctor, who will be able to evaluate the situation and check your general health before you decide what’s the best course of action.
A free initial consultation with a member of our team can assist you in determining the best treatment option for you. They will discuss your drinking with you, give you additional information about the various treatment options, and answer any questions you may have.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, around a third of people who are treated for alcoholism one year later have no other symptoms.
Call 0800 999 1083 for confidential help and to discuss treatment options.
Last Edited: September 19th, 2022
Clinically Reviewed: July 18, 2022
Clinical Reviewer
Michael
BACP accredited psychotherapist with 16 years experience working in mental health specialising in psychodynamic person-centred therapies treating those with a range of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, OCD and Addiction.
