wishful drinking 

the mistaken belief that by drinking until your liver turns to crumbly chalk, things will be better.

jeff just got dumped by his missus, so he headed down the pub for and extended session of wishful drinking.

wishful drinking by somdeluxe May 9, 2011

wishful drinking 

Drinking alcohol...as if getting drunk will bring him/her back.

Sitting here throwing 'em back, thinking she'll come back, ain't nothing but wishful drinking! It's the reason she left you in the first place!

wishful drinking by talk2me-JCH2 March 1, 2023

Wistful Drinking 

That point along the road to inebriated where you start to think about things that bum you out, people you miss, and how you wish the situation you were drinking in was more enjoyable.

(At the bar)

Jim: Hey Paul, what's wrong with Doug over there? He doesn't look too good.
Paul: Nah, he's fine. He's just "wistful drinking".

Wistful Drinking by THEGRABEROBBER April 29, 2013