Under similar circumstances, I asked myself the same question two years ago. I decided to quit drinking alcohol. It was not easy (and I still miss that afternoon beer). On the plus side I lost 30 pounds, feel better and am more active.

if you share this history with your healthcare professional they will document in your history, alcohol dependence and alcohol intake above reasonable daily limit. Which doesn’t mean much unless you choose to change health insurance. This diagnosis/documented problem will increase your rate and drive up the cost of new insurance.

If it makes you feel good and you don’t hurt anyone, drink to your hearts content.Remember, you are responsible for your happiness today! Bottoms Up!

The difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is that drunks don't have to go to all those meetings!

Don’t know…….but my A1C crept over the mark into Diabetes territory. I slowed my consumption to a crawl, went from hard liquors to Ultra and it came down. Just saying….

I found that I now drink infrequently since I retired. Maybe it is due to less business trips and dinner meetings or a more stress-free life.

Also, I have found that some of the newer no alcohol beers have improved. I have a hard time telling the difference between Guiness "0" and the original.

Off the sauce.
 

If drinking enhances your life, keep it up. If alcohol causes difficulty in your life, why consume any of it? IMO.

Alcohol drinks per day
 

Look at it this way. Alcohol by its very nature is a highly addictive drug which changes the way a person thinks, feels acts. It’s a drug - like any other drug. Many times our perceptions and thoughts about alcohol can affect what we choose to drink, how much and how often. It’s not a soft drink! I worked in the field of chemical addiction for eight years and saw how this “safe drug” changes peoples lives. Many of the people I worked with could not stop. I also worked in a hospital where people were undergoing alcohol detoxification. Yea, it’s a safe drug.

Would you choose to consume pain numbing prescription medications everyday? It starts with our attitude about alcohol. Do you really believe it’s a drug and do we treat it like one? For most people no. Look, many people can drink responsibly, there are those in our society who are allergic to alcohol. When consumed, one is not enough.

There are three stages a person goes through as part of the addiction process. Many times, people can’t or do not want to see where they sit in that process.

The question I always asked a person is: Is your drinking helping or hurting? If it’s hurting, do you really want to continue down that path? For many, The answer is: It’s not a problem! Then why are you on your third DUI? Domestic, health problems, - fill it in yourself. Yea, alcohol, the safe drug. Don’t kid yourself. It’s a highly addictive drug which needs to be respected. So, tonight instead of several drinks, look into your medicine cabinet and choose which 3-4 pain killers you want take. Do we really see alcohol as a drug? Do we treat it like one. Most people don’t.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the amount of alcoholic drinks you consume in a week is 2 times what is classified as heavy or hazardous drinking.

Instead of an opinion, 3 questions:

1. What is your motivation for asking this question on this forum?
2. If everybody here told you to quit drinking, would you?
3. Could you stop drinking?

You never really said if it brings you enjoyment? If it does, and it’s not affecting your health, relationships, etc. why change. Agree that stopping for 30 days to see how you feel might be a good test. I enjoy a drink but can tell I sleep better when I dont drink later in the evening. Agree with previous post that it’s largely a matter of genetics how your body manages. Good luck on your quest.

For a more objective opinion you could have your spouse or other significant person fill out the questionnaire and compare the answers.

Besides it being a drug as someone pointed out, alcohol is also a poison to your body which requires a number of steps to deal with.

A glass of wine or a beer with a meal is one thing, but if you’re doing it to “relax” then you have an addiction. Then it’s a risk / benefit analysis.

It’s best to ask your friends or family who know you best vs this board.

My question is, if you are married, how does your wife feel about your drinking? Do you have fights about it..... does it make her angry? If the answer is yes, you probably have a drinking problem. I had two husbands, who were alcoholics. the first died in a car wreck, the second of organ failure. (We were divorced by then) So, if your drinking is causing problems at home, I say quit.

Why do call TOTV a chat line?

Alcohol
 

Is there someone out there who smokes 4 packs of cigarettes out there a day and lives til 90? Sure, but I'm not willing to take that chance.

If you are older, on statins and waking up tired you might want to consider cutting back. It's what you are willing to risk for your health and cognitive function. Will your health improve if you quit? Most likely yes. It's recommended older people drink no more than two drinks a day or less. But you could be the rare Winston Churchill. Best way to answer your question is why don't you try it for a week and see how you feel? Not too late for dry January.

Since you asked for an opinion, three to four alcoholic beverages a day seems like a lot to a ‘one and done’ social drinker. However, at this point in your life it’s a habit and some would say an addiction, which would be difficult to change unless you choose to do so. However, if someone has asked you to quit for a particular reason (there are many) and you really care about that person, it’s worth consideration.

Exactly what I was thinking, internal damage that hasn’t yet presented itself. And not just the liver.

Women who grew up in families with addiction issues sometimes, and maybe often don’t recognize the problem even when they are unhappy in the relationship. Saw this over and over again in my line of work.

What led you to posting this topic? Caught my eye now curious also. I’m in the 50yr category.

IF you have to ask....maybe that's your answer. Mixing alcohol with the medications many of retirees are on don't mix well.

VV
Double check your "in a week is 2 times".

Per Mayo:
While moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking — including binge drinking — has no health benefits.

Heavy or high-risk drinking is defined as more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks a week for women and for men older than age 65, and more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks a week for men age 65 and younger.

Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-l...l/art-20044551

At this point, sense has nothing to do with it, imo. Check with your doctor, check with family and friends who will be brutally honest. They will be the ones to tell you if you should quit. If you really need a drink, ever, that might be a hint. I enjoy a drink now and then, but I may go a month b4 my next drink. When I do choose one, it is really enjoyed, not a dally habit. It is a special treat.

By the way, I hope you don't have those 3 or 4 then get behind the wheel. That includes golfcarts.

alcohol and anxiety
 

Several years ago I was having anxiety issues.
Told my doctor I quit drinking to see if would help.

He said; "and it didn't right? Made it worse right?"
Yeah, he was right.

why ask
 

Something is missing - why did you ask? Family saying it is too much or something about when you have that buzz on or ? What is it causing you to do you shouldn't or not doing that you should.
Otherwise why worry we are on our way out I want to enjoy it in a reasonable way

Drinkers vs. Alcoholics
 

If You have ever lived with an true alcoholic, or suffer the disease yourself, you would understand that there is a huge difference between drinkers and alcoholics.

I just buried my husband, a moderate drinker, from liver disease.

Reminds me of the old joke about a man being asked why he wasn’t following his doctor’s advice who told him that if he wanted to live to be an old man like himself he needed to stop drinking. To which the man replied, I thought about it and decided to not stop drinking because there are a lot more old drunks than old doctors.

[QUOTE=retiredguy123;2292233]For someone with no serious health issues, and who has been drinking 3 to 4 alcoholic beverages every day for 60 years, does i

Not over weight? Blood pressure normal? Then no. But you may be able to defy health issues in future due to aging with no alcohol

My condolences for your loss. 🙏

Maybe it’s what’s keeping you going. My dad drank every day. Sometimes from morning until night. He lived to be 85.

Ask your doctor
 

Your brain, your liver, your body, your choice. If you were really that concerned why wouldn’t you ask your doctor ?? This forum is full of what may be well meaning info, its also full of uneducated opinions. To get the best answer, go to a person who has a medical degree:

I cut back on drinking years ago didn’t make me feel any better to drink. Occasionally we’ll enjoy a drink at home but never at bar or restaurant.

123 has been around ToTV for a long time.

123 is an intelligent person.

It's a social board, 123 knows it and is just asking for opinions.

It's okay.

:posting:

Yes, absolutely you should quit.

As the cheapest guy on this forum, Retiredguy123, do you have any idea how much this is costing you?

Anyone else in the same circumstances, no.

I am sorry for your loss.

123 probably has lived a good life, already got the talk from medical or family/friends.

Life can be short even if you are a vegan. OP I would drop one drink per day see how you do mentally and physically. Then rethink

Costs me somewhere between 100 to 200 bucks a bottle, more or less. Unless I have help, that bottle can last a year or more. Seldom indulge, but when I do, I want it to be as good as I can get.

Alcohol is to your liver as pickle-ball is to your knees. Simply a matter of time before either one gives out.

Thanks for all of the opinions and information. For the record, no doctor has ever recommended that I quit drinking. My blood numbers are normal, including my liver tests. But I think that, at some point, everyone needs to make their own decisions about what is good for them. Doctors are great, but they don't know everything.

Excellent attitude and response. Good luck to you. 👍