Experiences of heavy drinking

Quotes are presented word for word apart from minor editing for readability and clarity. Identifying details have been removed. Square brackets show text that has been added or, where ellipses (three dots) appear, removed. For example, ‘as soon as I have that first sip, a change comes over me and that’s all that matters […] I just feel the physical buzz when I have the first drink.’

The men in this study all describe heavy drinking while also encountering significant alcohol-related health issues. Most describe heavy drinking as a routine activity or a ‘way of living’, despite having chronic health conditions that make them feel unhealthy. Most were socially isolated. Many lived alone and were unemployed, and only a couple were in relationships at the time of interview. These stories suggest the difficulties associated with boredom or lack of social engagement or purpose. Drinking provides routine, comfort and passes time in contexts characterised by little contact with friends and family, and limited meaningful social relationships or responsibilities.

When asked why they drank in the patterns they do or did, a few participants explain that it is because they were lonely or bored. Jakub [mid 70s, Polish, retired, drinking less], for example, explains that ‘loneliness is a big part of drinking in my case. Loneliness, bored[om], and like I said, after a long time of drinking, you lose interest. I lost interest to do some things. It was a disaster, very, very bad.’ For others, such as Arjun [late 30s, Indo-Fijian, unemployed but previously worked as a chef, no drinking in last 6 months], drinking helped to manage stress and pain. Some mentioned that although drinking could contribute to socialising and the maintenance of important friendships and other relationships, it also had unintended and unwanted consequences for relationships with partners, friends and children.

Despite periods of heavy drinking, all participants describe changing their patterns of drinking over time too. For some, heavy alcohol consumption became associated with mental health issues, injuries and accidents, and chronic and painful health conditions (See Looking after health). Below we discuss these themes in more detail.

What is heavy drinking? The men interviewed for this module have different perspectives on what counts as heavy drinking. As described above, some speak about drinking large quantities of alcohol regularly throughout the day and evening. Some describe regular heavy drinking as leading to addiction, dependence or alcoholism, and say drinking heavily makes looking after themselves challenging (See Perspectives on heavy drinking). Most men also describe gradually developing alcohol-related health problems and difficulties such as liver scarring, cirrhosis, ascites, oesophageal cuts, bleeding and vomiting.

Anthony [late 50s, Australian, works in hospitality, no drinking in last three months] explains that he continued to drink heavily despite being told he had the beginnings of cirrhosis of the liver. (Read his personal story)

Some describe being involved in repeated injuries and accidents.

Arjun [late 30s, Indo-Fijian, unemployed but previously worked as a chef, no drinking in last six months] describes blacking out on the street in front of the postman, who ran to alert his family. (Read his personal story)

Wayne [late 50s, Australian, unemployed, continuing to drink as usual] speaks about a recent incident at home where he fell over three times and experienced dizzy spells. (Read his personal story)

Drinking in everyday life

Drinking was, or had been, a daily habit for all the men we interviewed in this study. Most speak about drinking large amounts of wine, beer and spirits regularly throughout the day and evening. For example, John [60 years of age, Australia, retired, drinking less] explains that, for him, drinking heavily is a ‘way of living’. These accounts indicate how drinking is embedded in ordinary activities and daily life.

Anthony [late 50s, Australian, works in hospitality, no drinking in last three months] explains that regular heavy drinking was repetitive, ‘like a revolving door’. (Read his personal story)

Although some men describe drinking as repetitious and routine, others linked regular heavy drinking with feelings of pleasure and relaxation (See Enjoyment and pleasure).

When Arjun [late 30s, Indo-Fijian, unemployed but previously worked as a chef, no drinking in last six months] drank heavily he still experienced feelings of ‘euphoria’, as well as social benefits. (Read his personal story)

Relationships and work

While some participants comment on the pleasures and benefits of alcohol, others describe how heavy drinking can disrupt parts of their everyday life. Most of the men we interviewed say heavy drinking impacts on their relationships with family and friends. Some also explain that improving relationships with family and friends also motivates them to access treatment (see Experiences of treatment)

Bryan [late 40s, Australian, unemployed but previously worked in business, no drinking in last three weeks] explains that heavy drinking meant he woke later in the day and this interfered with his daily tasks and ability to care for his ageing parents. (Read his personal story)

For others, drinking resulted in losing touch with family. According to Steve [early 60s, Indigenous, previously worked in nursing, drinking less] heavy drinking had negative effects on his family life and commitments. After losing his license he was unable to help his wife pick up his kids or drive himself to work.

John [60 years of age, Australian, retired, drinking less] explains that for many years he did not see his children regularly because of their attitudes towards his drinking. (Read his personal story)

Although drinking interfered with some participants’ ability to maintain regular employment, some of the men we interviewed speak about how the routines and obligations of work helped them manage their drinking.

Wayne [late 50s, Australian, unemployed, continuing to drink as usual] describes how being made redundant from his job contributed to his drinking. (Read his personal story)

Michael [early 50s, Australian, works in retail, no drinking in last three months], describes how he drinks more on the weekends when he doesn’t need to go to work. (Read his personal story)

Changing patterns of drinking

A key concern for most participants was finding ways to manage or change their heavy drinking patterns. Although regular heavy drinking was often described as routine and repetitive by many of the men we interviewed, most say that their drinking patterns have changed over the years. Some have gone through periods without drinking followed by regular drinking, while others have continued to drink but shifted between heavier and lighter drinking. Others describe specific events or occasions that can prompt them to drink more, or particular people who they drink more with. Some describe changing their beverage of choice to moderate their drinking. While changing drinking patterns were common, change was also described as hard to achieve by several participants.

Rudy [late 20s, Australian, occupation withheld, drinking less] explains how his drinking patterns changed over his lifetime. (Read his personal story)

Anthony [late 50s, Australian, works in hospitality, no drinking in last three months] explains that he had previously tried to stop drinking but began to drink again when he was on holiday. (Read his personal story)

Dylan [late 40s, Australia, unemployed but previously worked in construction, continuing to drink as usual and was also on a methadone program] describes how he started drinking heavily to avoid testing positive to drugs while he was involved in a drug court. (Read his personal story)

Dylan later describes how he was worried about alcohol withdrawal when he entered the prison system last year:

Jakub [early 70s, Polish, retired, drinking less] has had periods without drinking followed by periods of regular drinking. Now he has decided to try a different approach: to reduce the amount he drinks rather than stop altogether. (Read his personal story)

Bryan [late 40s, Australian, unemployed but previously worked in business, no drinking in last three weeks] describes his plan to stop drinking now so he can become healthier and resume drinking in the future. (Read his personal story)

Steve [early 60s, Indigenous, unemployed but previously worked in nursing, drinking less] explains that as he has gotten older he has cut back his beer consumption, and no longer drinks scotch [strong language].  (Read his personal story)

Although the men we interviewed describe the ways their drinking patterns have changed over time, change was still described as challenging and hard.

John [60 years of age, Australian, retired, drinking less] describes giving up drinking as hard, even with the support of health professionals and medical treatment. (Read his personal story)