7 Signs I’m Drinking Too Much Wine

It’s not always easy to know how much wine is too much wine, or when your drinking has become a problem. However, there are certain signs that you can look out for.

Excessive wine-drinking is a sign of alcohol abuse, and can become a serious problem if left unaddressed, or if it gets worse.

If you’re concerned that you, a family member, or friend is drinking too much wine, here is what you need to know.

7 Signs You’re Drinking Too Much Wine

Drinking more than what’s recommended by health experts is the biggest sign that you are drinking too much wine — but there are also other signs you can look out for.

While having a glass of white or red wine every once in a while is unlikely to pose serious harm, drinking excessively on a regular basis is less harmless.

Here are some signs that you may be drinking too much wine:

1. You Feel Groggy Or More Tired Than Usual

Drinking too much wine can cause fatigue and grogginess. This can also affect your sleeping patterns, and could lead to insomnia over time.

Other possible side effects of drinking too much wine include:

• headache
• migraine
• blackout
• high blood pressure
• dehydration

2. You Spend A Lot Of Your Time Drinking Alcohol

If you drink wine every once in a while, also known as drinking in moderation, this is unlikely to spell out a drinking problem.

But if you’re spending a greater amount of time drinking alcoholic beverages — at night, or even during the day — this can be a sign of a problem.

3. You Drink More Than You Planned To

Drinking more than you’d planned before you uncorked the wine bottle can be a sign of excessive drinking, especially if this occurs more than once.

Alcohol affects your judgment, impulsivity, and can cause you to act in ways you normally wouldn’t when sober.

Alcohol can also be addictive. Drinking large amounts of alcohol regularly may cause alcohol cravings, and other physical signs of alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction.

4. Your Loved Ones Have Expressed Concern

If a family member, friend, significant other, or other loved one has commented on your drinking habits, or has expressed concern, this can also be a sign you’re drinking too much.

5. You’re Drinking More To Feel The Same Effect

People who drink excessively are likely to find themselves needing to drink more alcohol to feel the same effects of intoxication. This is known as developing tolerance.

When this occurs, you’ll feel the effects of alcohol less even when you’re drinking the same amount. For some, this can lead to drinking more, exacerbating the issue even further.

6. Your Drinking Is Interfering With Other Activities Or Relationships

Another sign of excessive drinking is when your drinking interferes with other parts of your life: your social life, hobbies, and your relationships.

Choosing wine over alcohol-free social activities, or anything else that would interfere with your ability to drink, can be a major sign of a drinking problem.

7. You’re Unable To Cut Down On How Much You Drink

Do you have a hard time reducing your wine intake? This can be a sign of substance abuse. Alcohol can cause physical dependence when consumed regularly in large quantities.

This can lead to withdrawal symptoms — sweating, tremors, headache, and more — upon any effort to cut down on alcohol or stop cold-turkey.

How Many Glasses Of Wine Per Day Is Okay?

Generally, the recommended intake for wine is five ounces or less per day for women, and 10 ounces or less per day for men.

That’s according to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA) guidelines for moderate drinking, which recommends:

• For men: having two drinks or less per day
• For women: having one drink or less per day

A standard drink of wine is five ounces. For beer, it’s 12 ounces, and for liquor, 1.5 ounces.

Is A Bottle Of Wine A Day Too Much?

Drinking a bottle of wine a day is “too much” if you’re trying to stick to recommendations by federal health officials for how much alcohol is relatively safe to drink per day.

An average bottle of wine contains 25.4 ounces of wine.

That’s equal to more than five standard alcoholic drinks, per federal dietary guidelines, which recommend drinking no more than one (for women) or two (for men) drinks per day.

What’s Considered Heavy Drinking?

Heavy drinking is defined as drinking four or more drinks a day for men, or three or more drinks per day for women.

Is Drinking Too Much Wine Dangerous?

Drinking too much wine can increase the risk for a number of health issues and short-term dangers of excessive alcohol use.

Heavy drinking or binge drinking increases the risk for:

• accidental injury (e.g. from a motor vehicle accident)
• certain cancers (e.g. breast cancer)
• stroke
• heart disease
• hypertension
• effects on brain health (e.g. brain damage)
• liver disease (including cirrhosis)
• weakened immune system
• alcohol poisoning
• mental health problems (e.g. anxiety, depression)

Get Help For Drinking Issues Today

If you’re concerned about your drinking habits, or that of a loved one, one of our specialists can explain your treatment options.

We can help you find a detox program, or connect you with a healthcare specialist to discuss whether an inpatient or outpatient treatment program may be right for you.

To find help for drinking today, call our helpline now for more information.