Are You Drinking Too Much Wine?

Published On: June 28, 2023

Many people can have the occasional glass of wine without experiencing any ill effects.

If you regularly drink more than the recommended amount of wine, however, you may be at risk of developing physical and mental health issues.

It’s common for most people to believe they are sticking to the limits, but you may be surprised at how easy it is to drink too much.

If you have a large glass of wine, you could be consuming up to 3 units of alcohol in just one drink.

This means that drinking just one large glass of wine five days a week could push you over the recommended limit.

Who Should Not Drink Wine At All?

Certain people should not drink wine or any type of alcohol due to the potential effects on their body, brain or behaviour.

It may be illegal for them to drink alcohol, such as in the case of drink-driving, or it may simply be recommended that alcohol is avoided due to serious or potentially fatal complications, such as in the case of taking certain medications.

People who should not drink wine or other forms of alcohol include:

Anyone under the age of 18 in the UK
Anyone who is taking medication that could react with alcohol
Anyone pregnant, may be pregnant or breastfeeding
Anyone who is planning to operate a vehicle or undertake any activity that requires alertness and coordination
Anyone who is in recovery from an addiction

There are many ways to relax and enjoy yourself without drinking wine or other forms of alcohol.

Consider joining an alcohol-free support group or speaking to a trained counsellor if you are finding it difficult to stop drinking wine.

What Is Binge Drinking?

Drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short space of time is known as binge drinking, and many people engage in this behaviour as a way to quickly become intoxicated.

Flooding your system with alcohol can be dangerous, as it can interfere with your other bodily functions.

For a man, drinking more than eight units of alcohol in one session is classified as binge drinking. For women, this is reduced to 6 units of alcohol.

Wine is often consumed during binge drinking sessions, as it is relatively cheap and easy to obtain.

Binge drinking is not recommended, as it can be extremely dangerous. You are more likely to be involved in an accident when you binge drink, as well as other health-related issues.

In the long term, regular and frequent binge drinking can lead to many problems, such as liver and kidney disease as well as a higher risk of developing.

How Do The Effects of Wine Change as I Age?

It is common for older people to be more affected by wine, even if they are drinking the same amount as they were when they were younger.

This can lead to you appearing drunker, being more susceptible to accidents and injuries and being more likely to develop alcohol-related health conditions. [3]

If you are taking medication as you get older, this may also react badly with wine.

Your life will change as you age, and this can increase your risk of developing an addiction to wine.

It’s common for some older people to be to rely on alcohol to cope with the death of their partner or family members, for example, or to stave off feelings of boredom.

Some older people can develop an alcohol addiction without other people noticing, as the signs of addiction may be attributed to a decline in physical and cognitive functioning due to their age.

How To Spot The Signs That You Are Drinking Too Much Wine

You may be wondering how your wine consumption compares with others.

Our behaviours can become deeply ingrained and normalised, so it can be difficult to know if you have a healthy relationship with alcohol or not.

The below signs can help you to understand whether you are drinking too much wine:

You find yourself lying about how much wine you drink and even drinking in secret
Drinking wine plays a huge role in your life – all of your social events revolve around alcohol, and you may struggle to imagine your life without wine
You use wine as a way to avoid feeling stress and other negative emotions
Your friends, family or other people close to you have spoken to you about their concerns regarding the amount of wine you drink
You often wake up with a hangover and may struggle to get through the day
Drinking wine is causing problems in your life, such as arguments with your partner or trouble at work
You feel like you need to drink wine to relax, enjoy life or simply function

If you relate to some of the above points, you may be drinking too much wine and may need professional support.

We can help – call Rehab 4 Alcoholism on 0800 111 4018 for advice and guidance.

Am I an Alcoholic if I Drink a Bottle of Wine Each Night?

While drinking a bottle of wine each night is excessive and could be classed as binge drinking, it does not necessarily mean that you are an alcoholic.

Alcoholism is more commonly known as alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction. It is an extremely strong urge to drink alcohol despite the problems that it may cause, and this urge can feel uncontrollable.

If you are addicted to alcohol, you have a physical and/or psychological dependence on this substance. You may feel that you need to drink alcohol to function or that you cannot switch off from stress without drinking.

Signs that you may have developed an alcohol addiction include:

Developing physical or mental health problems due to your alcohol consumption
Trying to stop drinking alcohol but being unable to
Drinking alcohol during inappropriate situations, such as at work
Experiencing negative consequences due to your alcohol consumption
Finding yourself in dangerous situations due to your alcohol consumption
Needing to drink more to get the same effects
Withdrawing from friends and family members
Spending more time drinking alcohol instead of engaging in hobbies
Experiencing cravings for alcohol when you aren’t drinking

If you are drinking a bottle of wine each night, you may not necessarily be an alcoholic.

But it is a sign that you should reflect on your behaviours around alcohol and make some changes, with professional help if needed.

Who is Most at Risk of Drinking Too Much Wine?

While anyone can fall into the trap of drinking too much wine regularly, some people may be more susceptible than others.

If you have experienced a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault or witnessing a terrorist attack, you may be more at risk of drinking too much wine.

This is because some people use alcohol as a way to cope with the symptoms of trauma, including the memories and feelings of anxiety that are associated with them.

You may also be more at risk of drinking too much wine if you live a stressful lifestyle, as many people attempt to wind down after a hard day with a couple of glasses of wine.

If this happens regularly, and you are not finding healthy ways to manage your stress, you may end up drinking too much wine.

Your genetics and family history can also play a role, as you may be more at risk of drinking too much wine if you have a close family member with a history of addiction.

Some studies indicate that specific genes can be passed down through generations that may make you more susceptible to developing an addiction.

Here’s What Happens When You Drink Too Much Wine

You may experience the effects of drinking too much wine very quickly, and these short-term effects can be extremely damaging.

Any of the below effects can occur even if this is the first time that you have drunk.

They can cause harm to you, your friends and family, the wider community and even impact health services.

Short-term effects of drinking too much wine include:

Increased risk of being involved in an accident
Nausea and vomiting
Lack of coordination and being unsteady on your feet
Impaired judgement, poor decision-making and confusion
Increased risk of having unprotected sex
Slurred speech
Loss of bladder control
Difficulty regulating emotions
Increased risk of legal troubles such as drink-driving or being drunk and disorderly
Loss of consciousness

The short-term effects of drinking too much wine can be fatal – you may be involved in a serious accident, become unconscious and choke on your vomit or get into a violent altercation that could turn deadly.

Long-term effects of drinking too much wine

If you continue to drink too much wine regularly, you may begin to experience the long-term effects of this substance.

Many people view wine as a lighter and safer form of alcohol when compared to stronger spirits, but it still has the potential to seriously affect your physical and mental health.

You are also more likely to develop an addiction to wine if you frequently drink too much.

Long-term effects of drinking too much wine include:

Increased blood pressure
Damage to your liver and kidneys
Alcohol-related brain damage, which can cause permanent memory loss and impaired judgement
Increased risk of developing some forms of cancer, such as breast cancer or liver cancer
Malnutrition
Inflammation of the stomach

Many of the above side effects can be dangerous and can severely affect your quality of life or even shorten your lifespan.

Limiting Your Wine Consumption

Below, we outline how to limit the amount of wine you are consuming:

What should I do if I think I’m drinking too much wine?

If you are concerned that you are drinking too much wine, you should speak to your doctor and ask for an assessment.

You may then be referred to a local alcohol support team or referred to a rehab clinic for treatment.

If you feel uncomfortable with this idea, you can also call Rehab 4 Alcoholism for confidential advice. We can provide a free telephone consultation and refer you to a suitable rehab clinic.

How can I control how much wine I drink?

You can change your behaviour around wine and build a healthier future for yourself.

Limiting your wine intake is not always easy, but with the right tools and support, you can be successful.

Some ways to control how much wine you drink include:

Plan out in advance how much wine you will drink, and stick to this limit
Speak to friends and family members and let them know that you are working to control your wine intake
Don’t keep bottles of wine in the house where they are easily accessible
Plan activities that don’t revolve around wine, such as a trip to the movies
Drink a glass of water between each glass of wine
Decide on a certain number of wine-free days each week
Speak to a professional counsellor
Check into a rehab clinic that specialises in alcohol addiction

The key is to not think too far into the future – take it one day at a time, and after a while, you will likely feel far more mindful and in control of your wine consumption.

References

[1] https://www.healthandwellbeingbucks.org/units-of-alcohol-in-alcoholic-drinks

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6104963/

[3] https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/facts-about-aging-and-alcohol

[4] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-use-screening-tests

[5] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/tips-on-cutting-down-alcohol/

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