
When a doctor asks how much you drink, they’ll nod at whatever answer you give them.
And then they’ll double it.
It’s called the “alcohol multiplier”, and decades of research suggests that the average patient will downplay their alcohol consumption, either because they genuinely don’t keep track, or for fear of judgement from their GP.
I wonder, though, if we tell each other the truth.
When a friend remarks that she had too much to drink on Friday night, did she have three glasses or 14?
When another says she has a drink with dinner, is that one standard unit, or closer to a full bottle?
What is a ‘normal’ amount of alcohol consumption, and what happens when what’s ‘normal’ also look a lot like a problem with alcohol?
I spoke to eight millennial women about their alcohol habits, and here’s what I discovered.
Your body after one year without alcohol. Post continues.
Harriet, 25
“I have upwards of five drinks a night. Based on that, I’d say I easily drink somewhere around 40 standard drinks a week. I do worry about how much I drink… especially right now.”
Daiyu, 25
“I’m very much a binge drinker – I only drink when I go out and I very rarely have anything to drink when I get home. I think this is probably because I grew up in a house full of alcohol, but then when I was 13 my parents both had to quit drinking for health reasons. So I’ve seen both sides and don’t really crave a drink when I’m at home in my house. But if I go out to dinner, hells yeah.
“I probably average around 3-4 glasses of wine a week MAX. If anything I worry I don’t drink as much as my peers and probably consider myself a bit lame.”
Jennifer, 29
“I try not to drink during the week unless I am out for dinner. I pretty much only drink red wine. I probably have maximum five glasses across the week, unless there is a special occasion. However, I am currently in competition for athletics, so not drinking much at all (1-2 glasses a week max).
Top Comments
I agree the numbers of drinks consumed per week are irrelevant. The best question to ask is ‘is alcohol getting in the way of what i want to do with my life? Is it taking more than it’s giving?’
Life is unbearably stressful. What do you expect? Doctors only care so they get you on drugs instead.
Is that what your tin-foil hat friends tell you, Daniel? That all doctors are out to get their patients onto drugs in order to get a big kick back from Big Pharma?