Alcohol – specifically my consumption of it – is a running theme here.  I have decided to quantify my drinking habits to put them into perspective.  I have been drinking alcohol since I was 15 – roughly 12 years – but for the sake of the math I will be focusing specifically on the last 5 years.

During that period of time my consumption has remained fairly consistent, and therefore much easier for me to put into numbers.  My estimates err on the conservative side, taking into account both brief periods of abstinence and mind-bending binges, as well as high-proof spirits (over 100-proof / 50% by volume).

My estimates are measured in liters/ounces of liquor (80+ proof); they also account for per-volume equivalents in beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages consumed.

The Science of Averages

Weekly consumption:  1.75 liters/59.17 ounces

Annual consumption:  91 liters/3,077.07 ounces

5-year total consumption:  455 liters/15,385.38 ounces

That’s 10,256.92 shots @ 1.5 ounces/shot

or 5.6175 drinks/day for 1826 days (there was a leap year in there)

Right.  Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks in a single sitting (for men) or 4 drinks (for women).  Opinions on what frequency constitutes binging differ, but those “rules” are written by teetotalers.

At a rate of just over five and a half drinks a day, I would finish a liter of Evan Williams in 4 days flat.  This seems just about right.  Typically, a liter of Evan lasts me the duration of the work-week (Sunday night – Thursday night).  I do not day-drink, and generally prefer not to drink at all before at least 5:30, or until any other responsibilities are completed.

That leaves 0.75 liters for the weekend.

I can easily consume 0.5 liters in a sitting – roughly 11 drinks – and still function the next day.  By function I mean that I can work out in the AM, and put in a 10 hour day.  However, during the week I try to avoid this sort of heavy consumption as it is both expensive and physically taxing.

My typical weeknight drinking involves 2-3 “shots” – 2 to 4 ounces – poured in a rocks glass.  I’ll plug one of these down when I know I’m done for the day, sip another with dinner, and maybe another after that.

Hard partying on a Friday or Saturday night can easily eat up that 0.75 liter weekend “allowance”.  Adhering to The German Method, it is not unheard of for me to slam down 18-20 drinks over the course of a long night.  15 shots is a fairly heavy night for me, and 8-12 is probably closer to a normal night of partying.

This kind of drinking would hardly qualify as “above average” . . . if I were 300 lbs.

My Other Stats

I am 5′10″ tall.  My average bodyweight over the last 5 years has been between 188-192 lbs.  The lowest I clocked in was 182, and the highest was 203.  My % of bodyfat averaged around 14%, never exceeding 17% at my heaviest.

I have always worked out a minimum of 5 times a week.  This includes

Weight Lifting at least 4 days/week as well as running, swimming, hiking and submission wrestling/mixed martial arts.

My hardest days included a 5:30 AM wake-up, 90 minutes of weight training, 30 minutes in the pool at lunch and 90-120 minutes of martial arts that night.  I did that 2-3 days a week on top of my other workouts.

At my heaviest, my 1 Rep Max on the flat bench exceeded 300 lbs, and my 3-lift total (Bench/Squat/Deadlift) was around 1000 lbs.  My cardio, at its worst, left me roughly enough gas for 45 minutes of drilling techniques and 30-60 minutes of 3-5 minute grappling matches.

The longest period of strict abstinence during this time was 15 days without caffeine or alcohol.  The worst night involved 2/3’s of a bottle of Booker’s (126-proof) and at least 1/3rd of a bottle of Jim Beam Black (86-proof).

That was the worst hangover I have ever had – two days immobile on the couch with alcohol poisoning – and the only night I’ve ever pissed the bed.

I have vomited from drinking less than 10 times in the past 5 years, .all of them due to nausea the following day.  Therefore, no liquor was lost in that way.

As for spillage, Mr. Black once took my stash of empty whiskey bottles (a year’s worth) and emptied out the tailings.  These miniscule portions netted him a gross (and I do mean gross) of 6 ounces of whiskey.  I am certain that my excesses more than compensate for any spillage, and I have factored that into my totals.