Am I drinking more than I realise?

Aug 14
2 min read

Two cocktails - how many standard drinks?

If you are not counting the number of standard drinks you are drinking, or strictly limiting your consumption, the answer is probably yes!

Many people underestimate how much they drink. It’s common to say “I only drink a bit in the evenings” and then be surprised when it’s added up over a week or a month.

Why We Underestimate Our Drinking

There are a few reasons people drink more than they realise:

- Home serves are bigger: A “glass” of wine at home is often 1.5–2 standard drinks.

- Topping up glasses: Makes it hard to track how much you’ve had.

- Busy lives: It’s easy to lose count after a long day or while socialising.

- Normalisation: If everyone around you drinks, your own intake can feel “normal,” even if it’s high.

A Quick Self-Check

Consider these questions:

- Do you often finish the bottle when you only planned one or two glasses?

- Do you forget exactly how many drinks you had the night before?

- Do you regularly drink most days of the week?

- Is it unusual for you to have several alcohol-free days in a row?

- Do other people comment on how much or how often you drink?

If you answered yes to some of these, you may be drinking more than you intend.

Try a One-Week Tracking Exercise

For 7 days, write down every drink you have, including:

- Type of drink (beer, wine, spirits, premix)

- Approximate amount

- Time of day

Then convert them to standard drinks using an Australian standard drink guide. People often discover they’re drinking:

- More frequently than they thought

- Larger amounts per session

- More total drinks per week than they were aware of

It’s Not About Blame or Shame – It’s About Awareness

Recognising that you’re drinking more than you realised is positive, useful information. It helps you decide if you want to change, or what you’d like to change and whether you might benefit from support.