0.5% alcohol red wine

[Ianc2]

Now available in your local supermarkets. Won't blow your socks off and it does contain a mix of wine and grape juice, but it does allow you to take part in social events and pretend you are swigging something stronger. it is not expensive unless you buy varieties that have been flown half way round the world..

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

In warm weather I recommend Ebony Vale Alcohol Free Chardonnay available in Waitrose.

Usually though I opt of a glass of the "real deal" and then switch to water with ice and lemon!

[Hidden]

“The evidence is adding up that no amount of drinking is safe,” says study co-author Emmanuela Gakidou, a professor of global health and health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. “I don’t think we’re going out on a limb to say anything that the data do not support.”

time.com/5376552/how-much-a...

(2018)

Luckily, I never drink, but I sadly have other "poison" as many of us do!

[Kev12564 in reply to Hidden]

I can’t disagree with what the article says, but there is a “but” coming.

I was a heavy drinker and had become dependent on alcohol and hence stopped. I might drink alcohol free beer (0%) and have drunk 0.5% wine occasionally as I consider this level of alcohol to be too low to do damage. But any more alcohol for the likes of me is a no no as it takes a long long time to be free of that urge, and a return to drinking, however moderate, will end badly.

Anyway, I was curious about the U.K. government’s 14 unit a week limit. There is a good New Scientist article published in 2016 which details various risks as the number of units increase. Between 0 and 14 units a week, you should be safe although there is a slight increase in oesophageal cancer for light drinkers. However, after 14 units, those cancer risks go up and up. The most gruesome statistic was a 35 unit per week drinker has a 1 in 17 chance of developing oesophageal cancer compared with 1 in 166 for a non drinker.

Oh and there were no health benefits whatsoever cited except for women over 55 years of age drinking around one unit a day. No one else benefits at all.

But just as we can’t eat carrots and lettuce all day nor go to the gym six times a week and maintain 6% body fat, I’d say it’s fine to drink sensibly within the 14 unit limit with 2 or 3 days off per week.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kev12564]

Interesting response. Did u just stop alcohol or wean yourself? I'm a 49 year old female on about 18 units a week and would like to just cut it out as it's one less risk factor for a number of conditions.

[Kev12564 in reply to Caitlyn6]

I was on a lot more than 18 units a week. For a long time I was on about 70 and then cut down to 40, but I always felt unsatisfied and wanted more and more. That was obviously alcohol dependency and a problem.

Like many others I quit, tried to moderate my drinking and then crept up to 40 units again. I’d done the same whilst on 70 units, but the difference was I’d started going to the gym and was quite fit, and knew there was no room for 70 units a week.

I’ve read and read, and it’s an impossibility for a heavy drinker to become a moderate one hence I quit 100% and was amazed at how easy it was to do so. If I started drinking again, I’d be back to 40 units, so again it’s easier to quit.

As for your 18 units, that’s not so terrible. The question is are you able to take a few days off and not feel irritable or sleep deprived without your alcohol? If so, you’re not doing badly as long as you have 2 days a week alcohol free. If you have a craving, I’d be a little more concerned as that can lead to higher levels of drinking,

I wouldn’t panic, though, on 18 units a week

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kev12564]

Thank you. I drink every day a glass of wine (about 2-3 units) in the evening, usually after the gym or walking the dog and have done for about 20 years. I find it hard to go a day without so It would be torturous to go 2 days without every week. Just need to go through the withdrawal process to stop the craving. Well done you on stopping and recognising it would be too difficult to moderate.

[Kev12564 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Thanks Anyone drinking 40 or 70 units a week really is shortening their life by decades. The New Scientist article I mentioned gives figures on the increased cancer risks that kick in after 35 units, so it’s a no brainer to not drink that much.

To moderate is very very hard and unpleasant. There will be long nights of boredom and agitation at first not to mention no sleep at all! Quitting 100% is a breeze in comparison.

I went to a counsellor who wasn’t so helpful. I tried a drug called Campral which suppresses alcohol cravings, but I didn’t need it. The counsellor did say drinking every day is a problem, so I can’t pretend that’s not an issue in your case.

This’ll sound odd coming from me, but if you can cut the booze out for 2 days a week, you’d be down to 14 units and give your liver a break. It’s worth a try isn’t it?

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kev12564]

Yes I will definitely pursue either moderation or abstinence. It's the

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Meant to say it's the brain that stops me. Need to commit to it 100% then can't allow excuses to creep in

[Kev12564 in reply to Caitlyn6]

It’s a big decision, heartbreaking even, to stop drinking.

Yes, the brain is the problem as it gets hard wired over the years to demand alcohol. The drug I mentioned, Campral, works by suppressing that brain activity.

So, it won’t be easy to do either option. From experience, abstinence is easier, but you don’t really have a problem (compared to me) so I’d try for 2 clear days a week. Maybe get used to alcohol free wine?

[Kev12564 in reply to Kev12564]

By the way, I’m 49 too. I’ve gone from a 110kg (BMI 32) slob to 87Kg (BMI 26) triathlon wannabe in just over a year. There was no room for booze in there

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kev12564]

Wow that's a great achievement and good to have replaced the demon with something so positive

[Kev12564 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Thanks, but I always say I (and people in general) shouldn’t get to that state in the first place

You’ve done well to stick to 18 units so don’t be too hard on yourself.

[Hidden in reply to Caitlyn6]

I know it sounds bonkers, but how about buying a really lovely smaller glass, especially for yourself & filling it up? It would seem like a special treat for you & probably reduce your intake by several units.

Pat x

[Sunnie2day in reply to Hidden]

Great suggestion, I was thinking the same thing - Mollypet could still enjoy an evening glass of wine using a smaller wine glass.

[Oldjock]

Two years ago I had malignant hypertension, BP 180/120, was pre-diabetic, well overweight, and had recurring gout. Funnily enough it was the gout which took me to the GP. I was 63 y.o. and forty six years of drinking had caught up with me. I said to the doc that I’d been treating my body like a skip...his calm reply was that landfill was next. His candour was welcome and deserved. I stopped drinking completely and am now two year’s sober, almost three stone lighter and with the help of Ramipril BP was 114/80 two days ago. I do like good beer, and have found DryDrinker, who sell a massive range of beers, wines and 0% “spirits”. The beers I order are either 0.5% or 0% avb. I’m guessing that many of us here have had to alter our alcohol habits, what helps is that being a non-drinker carries less of a judgement from dyed in the wool drinkers than it used to, although there can be raised eyebrows and sarcastic remarks made to us. Sorry, almost away on a wee rant there. There’s a massive range of low/zero alcohol drinks available now...enjoy, cheers to health and happiness.

[Kev12564 in reply to Oldjock]

Well done to you. That can’t have been easy to stop drinking after 46 years!

A couple of really good points:

1. Doctors have seen it all before. People think they’ll get told off if tell the truth that they drink so many units a week. Doctors won’t bat an eyelid. They might not be overly helpful without nagging and will probably assume all patients underestimate their drinking, but they’ll never be shocked.

2. Alcohol free stuff takes getting used to for a real drinker, but it’s worth trying. There are people who are very anti alcohol free as they say it can cause relapses in ex-drinkers. I’ve seen no research for this and it works for me.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Oldjock]

Thanks for the good advice and well done on turning it around

[Bettystaff]

I bought alcohol free Merlot last night, honestly it was dire. As sweet as full sugar coke (not that I have drunk that in 20+ years) . Some of the alcohol free beers are nice though and a nice change from a soft drink.

[Kev12564 in reply to Bettystaff]

I used to drink (a lot of) red wine, and I must admit alcohol free red wine is the one alcohol free product that doesn’t work, at least not yet. Eisberg red wine is almost tolerable.

But alcohol free beers are good now with products such as Nanny State or Heineken 0. The trouble is they take getting used to for a drinker. Likewise alcohol free white wine is OK (not brilliant), but I was never a white wine fan as a drinker anyway.

Thankfully I never drank spirits. Not that beer and wine are any less dangerous, but I would have consumed large quantities if I’d ever drank whisky, and I really reckon I’d have become seriously ill. There are alcohol free gins out there (Seedlip) which might be worth a try for spirits fans.

[Hidden in reply to Bettystaff]

I have to agree, I have tried quite a few AF wines and generally they are awful. Likewise a lot of the beer - the only one I found any good at all was Ghost Ship 0.5%, which is excellent. I would sooner not bother than drink the AF wines I have tried, including that Waitrose one mentioned - sorry! I am also struggling with 14 units a week, I think the comment about the brain getting wired over the years is very true.

[shopman]

I think one thing that must be borne in mind is how some "wines" are produced. We all have had visions of trampling the grapes in a vat but are you aware a lot are produced from concentrates then have water added - in the same way as diluted orange juice.

[Becz123]

Just thought I’d add a couple of alcohol free recommendations. I haven’t got an heart problem but my husband has just had a replacement aorta and I’m trying to cut back on alcohol. We have found Heineken 0% larger quite nice, Old Mout cherry cider 0% version £1 a bottle in Asda and Koppenburg fruit cider alcohol free quite nice.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Just a slight word of warning some alcohol free products have a very high sugar content in the same way some "free from" products have high levels of carbohydrates and fat!

[Wadeowen]

Hi all, the zero alcohol wine I've tried so far hasn't been good so I will try the 0.5 wine and the chardonnay from Waitrose thanks.. I also find the m&s sparkling white zero alcohol a good alternative at parties.. back when i got diagnosed with heart disease I was told not to drink for 3 months.. I started to read more and more different articles about the effects of achohol but the one point I always found interesting is:

I always looked forward to that drink at the end of a busy or stressful day and would feel instant relaxation from a nice cold beer or glass of white wine, but it's all just in the mind. It takes at least 30 mins for achohol to get into the blood system. Therefore the relaxation apparently comes from you are having a different type of drink you have not had that day or are sitting or standing in a different place... I'm not saying this will work for everyone but agree with at least no alcohol for 48 hours (I'm a weekend binge drinker) and on my nights off I just go for a couple of tumblers of slimline tonic with ice and bezarely it does seem to do the trick for me and works...

Happy Monday everyone

[CretanBob]

Hi Guys, thanks for all the useful information, I'm 62, and was fit and healthy playing 5 a side until 4 years ago. Classic normal BP & HR, relatively normal Cholesterol then developed breathing/tiredness/gastro issues and went onto, last year, heart attack and cardiac arrest with no real warning. For the last ten years my alcohol tastes had changed. I used to like a small glass of single malt at the weekend, then 4 years ago it became like kryptonite to me. Beer is a no no too. Red wine actually made me 'feel' better. Now on 9 tablets a day under the 'just in case' protocol and my body won't let me drink more that a glass (sometimes two) at a sitting (it has to be Italian too! - I'm weird or my stomach is) and three days off is not really a problem. I've found that the slow reduction has worked for me so far but I need to take it further and exercise is really difficult. Unfortuneatly, there are no real alternatives for me as even water causes bloating and drags blood down to the digestion process. I may have a dabble with some of the beers just to see - thanks.

[WeaverShaz]

I can recommend Beck's Blue 0.05% lager too. Tastes delicious - just like the real thing.

[Nanny72]

Interesting to read all these stories. Haven't drunk any alcohol for over 20 years. Don't smoke. Not overweight. But became hypertensive 18 years ago. Had valve replacement last year and was told minimal plaque in arteries.

Total cholesterol less than 4.

Can't get any answers to why I had heart disease. Maybe just age had my surgery on my 72nd birthday

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Interesting side note. Panorama tonight is highlighting how the majority of manufacturers still have the out-of-date guidelines on their products - the guidelines were lowered three years ago!

[Prada47]

Hi almost a 72 yo

Drink probably 18 units a week 8 x 500 ml cans avg ABV 4 to 4.5. I do like a can of beer with Spag bol on a Friday Night. I follow the recommendation of having 2/3 days a week with no Alcohol which makes me feel righteous LOL

A lot depends on how you cope with the alcohol I don't have a problem with it and it doesn't affect my Heart Rate.

We are all being so good now with all the information ( and finger waging ) Eat 5 a day Fruit/Veg Don't Smoke and Restrict Alcohol which will help a lot us all to live long enough to need new knees and hips (After all the Exercising ) No wonder Care Homes are now Full. This is very much tongue in cheek we just can't win anymore !!

Relax and enjoy what's left

[Squash-player]

I recall a medical professor said at a public meeting some years ago that a glass of red wine a day is beneficial to your heart; he in fact recommended it to everybody. Asked later by a member of the audience what about a glass of white wine, he said definitely not. I just googled "red wine - heart" and found this link at the top: mayoclinic.org/diseases-con.... Seems to be above board, for those who want to know more..

[bruceDavid]

i live alone and always have a red and white bottle also i partake with a glass about twice a week,im not getting any younger

[MEW123]

I highly recommend Estrella Free Damm 0.0% available in most supermarkets, I make myself a pint at home and it's not a million miles away from the real thing taste wise. Also recommend a book called the 28 day alcohol free challenge, I started that in January and still going today, may call it time after 180 days and look to view beer with a new level of respect and moderation, i.e. 2 or 3 pints a week max. May keep going though, they say that 96% of people that get to 90 days then choose to stay alcohol free.

[Kev12564 in reply to MEW123]

If you’re able to keep to that level, go for it. If not, do what I did and quit 100%, way easier. Well done so far, great effort 😀

[Gundoglady]

Gosh, haven't bought alcohol free wine for a few years! I used to buy it for my dad, he always liked a glass or bottle of red wine, he suffered from heart problems since his 40's 3 HA, bypass surgery, and also suffered from Alzheimer's as he got older, so rather than deprive him of his favourite tipple ( it didn't agree with him, Alzheimer's and alcohol rarely mix well) it was always difficult to refuse him, as the Alzheimer's made him a very difficult person, I would buy him a bottle of good red wine, and a bottle of AF red wine and a bottle of beetroot juice ( sounds like a weird mix I know) we (mum and I) would mix them together, so within reason he could have his beloved drink X

Me, I'm not a heavy drinker, I do drink, but can take it or leave it, I like my fizz but one bottle lasts me two days usually a Friday and a Saturday Evening, unless we go out, and then it depends how the mood takes me X

I wish my diabetic, smoker of a husband would see the 'light', I can only suggest so many things before I'm nagging! Personally I'd be happy tee total if my hubby would stop, I've cut out week day drinking completely in the hope that would give him encouragement to stop, but sadly as of yet he still doesn't want too, and it has to come from him X

So to those of you above that have beaten it, huge congratulations to you, I commend you, long may you continue X

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Gundoglady]

Hi... The first addiction your husband has to give up is smoking - I think it has to be one thing at a time! Smoking is a major cause of PAD (peripheral arterial disease) as is diabetes. Sometimes it can be treated by bypass (Google Gary Mabbutt's leg) or angioplasty but often in results in amputation!!! Good luck!

[Gazza01]

Why can't you have a couple of drinks?