In Scotland, minimum unit pricing means that a standard bottle of wine (10 units) cannot cost less than £5 (50p per unit).
Us down in England have no such rule – yet – and can therefore take advantage of deals and offers that bring the cost of booze down.
We’re not complaining when we get to the till, but it does make it easier to stockpile alcohol in the house, that then goes on to get drunk a lot quicker than we expected.
This week’s Spill It sees a diarist who loves a bargain on his favourite wines, and never wants them to be lonely in the fridge.
Find out what Chris*, a 49-year-old environmental services officer drinks in a week.
Friday
It’s almost Friday night and, as a man of a certain age, my excitement for Friday is because I’m NOT going out – woohoo!
My evening will consist of a trip to Tesco (though other retailers are available). On my way, I stifle a laugh when I receive a whatsapp from my wife asking me to pick up some loo roll if I am going to Tesco. We’ve been married nearly 20 years… I forget the loo roll!
Friday night consists of a large glass of Sauvignon from a nearly dead soldier in the fridge followed by a full bottle from my Tesco trip.
Units: 13
Saturday
Spent the day food shopping (yes, Tesco again), being an unlicensed ‘dad cab’ – they really should make becoming one of these more difficult – and ordering a pizza for family movie night.
The pizza was good, the movie rubbish, but the company was great – my sister-in-law brought over a bottle of Prosecco, which is always welcome. A third of a bottle of bubbles, followed by the second bottle I bought on Friday (I always buy two bottles as they get lonely in the fridge).
Units: 12.8
Sunday
A day spent sorting out old paperwork (not many laughs to be had here except some old payslips from the mid-nineties, which prompted me to ask myself how I afforded to drink back then) and a bottle and a half of Sauvignon shared with my wife over and after dinner.
Units: 15
Monday
A saintly dry night, nothing but fresh orange juice (cue heavenly choirs).
Units: 0
Tuesday
After a very busy day decided to pop into Tesco again for a bottle of Sauvignon to have with sausage, mash and onion gravy – darn it Tesco are doing the two for £9 again…….it’s a deal! Half a bottle and a (large) glass goes down a treat.
Units: 8
Wednesday
My son is to be evacuated due to the Blitz (he’s in year 6), which is very stressful so I share the last of Tuesday’s deal with my wife – one large glass.
Units: 3
Thursday
My car has a mind of its own and takes me to, yep you guessed it, Tesco! I resist the 2 for £9 deal (just) and feel good about myself when I get a single one for £6.
Half a bottle of a lovely Aussie Sauvignon shared, almost a dry night! And, it’s almost Friday again…
Units: 5
Total units for the week: 56.8
Total units in a week recommended by the NHS: 14 units (for anybody regardless of gender). Obviously, if you’re able to get lower than this, even better!
Spill It is a weekly series out every Friday. To get involved email jessica.lindsay@metro.co.uk.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/22/spill-49-year-old-environmental-services-officer-drinks-week-11199674/
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