I used to self medicate with alcohol and would therefore drink around 1-2L of whiskey per day. After a stint in hospital after drinking way too much, my consumption gradually slowed down and eventually completely stopped. Every now and then I go to a social function and will drink but my body just doesn't tolerate it now, perhaps because I drank too much when I was first legally entitled to do so.

Every now and then I'll go through phases of enjoying one or two beers every few days and then go back to drinking nothing alcoholic at all for months on end. During the Christmas period I tend to drink every day, and will struggle to stop for a few weeks after. I believe I drank in excess of 15 units every day for almost a month during last year's Christmas period but since that I haven't drank anything alcoholic at all.

When I meet up with an old friend of mine, which happens every few months, I have to have a few beers. I just cannot interact in some situations without it; alcohol is like a crutch that I cannot throw away - I can put it in the cupboard but every now and then I get a sprain and have to get it out again.