For Some, There Is No Such Thing as Safe Drinking

There are plenty of people whose health can’t afford a daily drink

Gillian May
Elemental

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Photo: Lisa Schaetzle/Getty Images

I am an alcoholic in recovery.

Before I quit drinking five years ago, I meandered through a slippery contemplation phase for several years. I knew I had a problem, but the perceived relief I got from drinking outweighed my desire to do something about my addiction. Instead, I tried to follow the safe drinking guidelines as a way to manage my relationship with alcohol.

Safe drinking is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Moderate weekly drinking would then be less than seven drinks per week for a woman and less than 14 drinks per week for a man. The CDC also recommends no more than four drinks on one occasion for a woman and no more than five drinks on one occasion for a man.

As an alcoholic, I obviously struggled with maintaining safe drinking.

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Gillian May
Elemental

I educate about alcohol addiction, health issues, trauma, and psychedelics. Book a 45-min video call with me: https://calendly.com/gilliancanwrite/consultation