Modern wines are too alcoholic!

 When I was a teenager, popular alcoholic drinks were Sherry, Dubonet, Cinzano ,Gin and tonic etc. Wine was reserved for mealtimes, and the selection was fairly limited.

Wine has steadily become more popular and with its popularity - the alcoholic content has got stronger - which is not good.

A 12% alcoholic wine used to be the norm - which is 1.5 units per 125ml small glass.

I have seen wines with 13 - 15% alcoholic content. Not good!

I am challenging myself to find good 12% red wines. Let me know if you find any.

I recommend the drinkaware app, which is free, and it allows you to chart your weekly units of alcohol. 14 units is the most anyone should drink - per week.

BINGE DRINKING

Oh Dear! It seems we are a nation of binge drinkers! Or at least regular bingers.
A binge drinker is someone who consumes more than 6 units - for women, or 8 units for men - in one sitting. A bottle of wine contains 9 units - which means that 4 glasses of 125ml wine is tops - any more and you are a binge drinker.

I don't like being called a binge drinker (of which I am guilty sometimes) - it disturbs me. It puts one on the level of slapper or hoydenish behaviour. Not nice.

More than 6 units for women and 8 units for men in one session. Those are the facts..

Does this mean that if at lunch time you have 6 units of alcohol - no more, and then at supper you have 6 units - no more - are you not a binger then? The medics or experts said per session - they need to clarify this. Also - some people are able to consume more than this and they are completely sober.

The other thing - surely it depends on ones weight? If one is thin you can't drink much and if you are too fat - 7 units won't affect you.

My favourite tipple is fizzy wine - Champagne, English Sparkling wine etc. I know it’s very bad to mix drinks so best to stick to one variety at a time. Mixing can have terrible consequences.

But this news shook me up. Enough to watch the units.

It is certainly food for thought.