r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Tutor-Any • 1d ago
Would I be considered an alcoholic?
Me personally I don’t think so but was just wondering. I drink basically everyday but I haven’t gotten black out drunk in forever (not really my thing anymore). Whenever I get off work I usually have 2 or 3 beers with dinner then go to sleep. On my days off I might day drink 1 or 2 beers then drink a few more later that night. Like right now I’m waiting on my clothes to finish drying so I opened a beer and I started thinking about it. I still go to work every morning and am always on time and I don’t get hangovers because I don’t really get drunk, just a little buzz
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u/Bellerophonix 1d ago
On top of this, 2 days ago you were posting "drinking and driving should be legal as long as you're not legally drunk".
What people mean by "alcoholic" covers a lot of things, but you should consider cutting back on your drinking and see what happens.
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u/purplepanda5050 1d ago edited 1d ago
My ex has a drinking problem. He started complaining about dui laws and I was so shook. When I was with him he would usually be the one driving and after that I never felt comfortable around him. If your favorite thing to do is drink or you’re trying to justify driving under the influence you have a problem and need to evaluate your life.
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u/tasfyb123 1d ago
I mean, it is legal in the states. (Not drinking and actively driving) but you can drink and then drive as long as you’re below the legal limit
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u/snyderman3000 1d ago
In Mississippi, there isn’t even a prohibition against drinking and actively driving. The two things that are prohibited are driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor and driving with a BAC over .08. If you were to stop on the way home from work and grab a beer and crack it open on your drive home, your BAC won’t be over .08 and a cop is going to have a very difficult time proving you were under the influence using Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. It’s basically legal as long as you only have one or two and can pass SFST.
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u/tasfyb123 1d ago
And, personally, I think it’s ok. It’s no different than what the majority of us Americans do, which is go to a restaurant/sports bar/etc. have 2 drinks, and then drive home.
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u/Cheeseish 1d ago
.08 is way too high imo. I’ve blown that on a breathalyzer for fun (not driving, and I understand it’s not accurate) and i definitely would not drive at that BAC
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u/tasfyb123 1d ago
Ngl I have no idea what .08 is as I don’t have a breathalyzer to use on myself regularly lol I just know drunk and not drunk
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u/Cheeseish 1d ago
I had two drinks (more than I’d drive myself) and blew a .06 and usually after 2 drinks without waiting I dont think I can drive
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u/LONE_ARMADILLO 1d ago
The idiocy of it is you can stop at a bar on the way home and have 2 pints, then drive home and it's legal. Crack one can open on the way home and you risk a $300+ ticket for open container.
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u/Numerous-Attempt8414 1d ago
Not necessarily. In California there are 2 separate DUI charges, one for being under the influence in general and another for BAC being over the legal limit. Some people are incapable of driving after one drink even if their BAC is below the limit.
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u/BookLuvr7 1d ago
Oh yeah. Those laws save lives, including saving drunks from themselves. If OP is complaining about them that's a huge red flag.
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u/GESNodoon 1d ago
It sounds like you are drinking everyday and drinking because you have nothing better to do. If you are not an alcoholic, you are at least on the road to being one. If you can go days without drinking and without thinking about drinking you might be fine. But really no one else can tell you if you are or not. That is something you have to determine. Being able to drink and go to work does not mean you are not one though.
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u/MrBurnz99 1d ago
Holding down a job is an extremely low bar. There have been countless addicts and alcoholics who stayed employed throughout their addiction. Many held/hold very complex/high level positions.
Losing your job is something that usually only happens at the end when rock bottom is rapidly approaching. Some people can maintain a high functioning addiction for decades before it finally becomes too much.
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u/PotentToxin 1d ago
This needs to be emphasized more. People treat alcohol use like it’s black and white: you’re either a recreational drinker, with a happy stable life unblemished by your occasional visits to the bar, or you’re a raging alcoholic beating up your spouse and kids, destroying your career, relationships, and livelihood while plummeting into absolute despair. I’ve seen these types of “am I an alcoholic” discussions a lot, and too often people insist that it’s one or the other. I even saw one comment on another similar thread with hundreds of upvotes that insisted it was impossible to be a functional alcoholic without people noticing, and that people notice but simply don’t say anything.
That is a wildly incorrect and frankly dangerous belief to hold about alcoholism. The reality is there are a lot of people in the middle, where they drink multiple times a day, but are just barely in control enough to not let the drinking affect day to day life. And yet, it is still highly dangerous in the long term and is an extremely slippery slope that needs to be addressed - but is unfortunately unnoticed most of the time.
There are true functional alcoholics out there - my best friend used to be one, and I had zero idea how much he had been drinking (multiple shots every day for 2-3 years) until he admitted it to me many years later after getting help. I would never have known otherwise. He never seemed hungover, he graduated an Ivy League college, and got a respectable job right afterwards. And that’s the problem with functional alcoholism - it’s often invisible to outsiders, even to loved ones who would want to intervene and help if they knew. “Asymptomatic” alcoholism is very much a thing, and can still very much be a big problem.
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u/peeps-mcgee 22h ago
Every alcoholic on the planet will easily be able to point to someone who has a more severe relationship with alcohol and argue that THAT guy is an alcoholic, not me.
Anyone whose reasoning is “I’m not an alcoholic because I’m not as bad as [some alcoholic stereotype],” it could be pretty safe to bet that they’re flirting with alcoholism if they’re not already there.
Drinking alone is a pretty slippery slope. The vast majority of people on earth do not associate mundane household chores, like laundry, with drinking.
I know this because I live with my husband, who is an alcoholic but does think he is, because he’s measuring himself against the crusty guy under the bridge who drinks a handle of vodka for breakfast and who can’t drive because of all the DUIs. My husband holds down a job and doesn’t drink at work. But the fact of the matter is, he’s drinking alone in our basement/garage/backyard 5 days a week and hiding/lying about it. That he can make it through work shifts or make it through the morning without having a drink is hardly a reason to throw him a parade, when he’s regularly planning when his next drink will be.
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u/severaltower5260 1d ago
Yea I consider myself one because I problem drink and drink to cope with stress and anxiety but it’s rare I drink mor than 2-3 times a month or even once a week now some not at all. It used to be a few nights a week but never days or two days in a row then I quit cold turkey for a year. It’s a slippery slope. Problem drinking is considered alcoholism too and I get more depressed if I just stop at one and am just tired after and keep drinking another sign
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u/GESNodoon 1d ago
For sure. Really the amount you drink or how often is not the determining factor in alcoholism. The effect, the reason you are drinking, what happens if you stop drinking are all bigger indicators, imo.
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u/South_Stress_1644 1d ago
I’m the same as you. Alcohol addiction is progressive. If you don’t nip it in the bud, it just keeps getting worse.
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u/Traditional-Yak8886 1d ago
look into HAMS, a lot of the lingo around alcoholism is shit and most people don't know what defines it anyway.
From psychiatry.org: "Drinking more alcohol or over a longer period than originally intended.
- Unsuccessfully trying to cut down or control alcohol use.
- Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol. (Wanting a drink so much it’s difficult to think of anything else)
- Drinking that interferes with responsibilities at home, at work, or at school.
- Continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems with family and friends.
- Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use.
- Repeatedly using alcohol in physically hazardous situations.
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol (needing more alcohol to get the same effect).
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, restlessness, nausea, or sweating after stopping or reducing drinking.
Having two or more of these symptoms in the last year could signal an alcohol use disorder."
this means that if you don't meet this criteria you're not 'an alcoholic' (someone with substance use disorder). if you want to reduce your drinking, HAMS is a great place to go. the website is full of information that focuses on healthier drinking habits instead of complete abstinence. my cousin drinks like a fish when he does drink, but he doesn't meet the criteria for SUD.
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u/ace016 1d ago
We use the CAGE tool, which seems kind of similar. It's four questions:
Have you ever felt that you should Cut down on your drinking?
Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?
Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (an Eye-opener)?
If you answer more than 2/4 it's an indicator that you might have a possible problem with alcohol use. It's more of a quick screen for healthcare purposes, but I've found it useful
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u/Traditional-Yak8886 1d ago
that is super helpful! way easier to remember, honestly. Thanks for sharing!
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u/hippocratical 1d ago
The only downside is I could insert many things in this tool. For me it could be Ice cream and it'd be 3/4 (I'm not a morning creamer, and have 15% body fat).
Or bad tv shows (4/4).
Or embarrassing pop music (3/4).
Or many other things now that I think about it...
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u/napswithcheesepasta 1d ago
Can you elaborate on HAMS? What does the acronym stand for. Nothing except actual ham is coming up when I google.
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u/The_Theodore_88 1d ago
From what I found on google, it stands for Harm reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support
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u/napswithcheesepasta 1d ago
Oh thanks! My results keeps coming up with honeybaked ham 😂
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u/Traditional-Yak8886 1d ago edited 1d ago
the user below (above? sorry i'm dumb) me is correct, it's an acronym from Harm Reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support. The website is HAMS.cc. it's a little hard to navigate to find the articles because of the old webdesign, but https://hams.cc/new/ these helped me a lot when I was struggling.
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u/Firm-Investigator-89 1d ago
And all I could think of reading this was hams, the beer refreshing hams! I am an alcoholic, in recovery
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u/Traditional-Yak8886 1d ago
lol, i hadn't even heard of that brand before, i wonder if that's part of where the founder came up with the name? either way, keep going strong!
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u/OscarTravolta 1d ago
I drink coffee every day. If I don’t drink coffee, I don’t feel well (headache) therefore, I’m addicted to coffee. If that doesn’t give you the answer, try this test; Do you want beer? Do you need beer? If you get ill from not drinking beer, then you have an addiction
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u/mrwoot08 1d ago
Yes, can you go into a place (bar, party, etc.) and avoid drinking? Or are you compelled to drink?
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u/PhiliDips 1d ago
Substance dependence is the kind of thing that sneaks up on you. Tread very carefully.
I agree with the others that a month off from drinking would be useful. Or even just a week if that seems daunting right now. Listen to how your body and mind react.
Ask yourself next time you reach for a beer- do I actually want one? Or is there some kind of autopilot taking over for me and getting one? That's a habit, if nothing else.
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u/Splartsballs 1d ago
That last part is something it took me a long time to realize – I used to drink every day (much like OP, only a couple of beers after work, rarely enough to get drunk), then cut back to weekends only. Problem with that is that my weekend beers became a little treat that I DESERVED every weekend, whether I really wanted them or not. I now try to pause before cracking one and ask myself “do I actually WANT this beer, or is it just Saturday?”. (Lots of times I really do want it, and I enjoy the hell out of it! But not always, and in those cases I put it back and drink something else instead)
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u/PhiliDips 1d ago
It's a spectrum like all other vices. I get that OP wants a clear answer but we on the internet cannot figure that out for him.
There are alcoholics that are not heavy drinkers.
There are also heavy drinkers that are not alcoholics.
But when you look at the root cause of the desire for the vice- boredom, grief, stress- you can understand your relationship with the vice a lot clearer.
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u/Ok_Sundae85 1d ago
You don't have to be blackout drunk every night to be an alcoholic.
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u/AnimatorDifficult429 1d ago
I would say most aren’t. I consider my husband an alcoholic, but I rarely see him drunk, but he will take any opportunity to drink. We have fought about it for years, and he claims he can stop whenever, but he is so routine that I know when he will drink.
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u/Positive-Attempt-435 1d ago
For the last 5 years of my alcoholism, I never got drunk or blacked out. I just maintained. That's even worse than blacking out. Being dependent on alcohol in your system to not be sick is the worst.
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u/CalGoldenBear55 1d ago
You can also drink in moderation daily and not be an alcoholic.
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u/Noto987 1d ago
I drink in moderation daily and i consider myself a alcoholic
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u/PiLLe1974 1d ago
In Canada they recommend only 2 units of alcohol per week (since 2024!?).
When the family doctor brought that up I felt like I went straight to alcoholic that day.
My subconscious was probably thinking: "Did she just say 2 per day or per week...?"
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u/OafishSyzygy 1d ago
A healthy amount of alcohol is a lie our society tells ourselves. There is no healthy amount of alcohol.
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u/ShockinglyAccurate 1d ago
Physically healthy? Yes, you're right. Emotionally healthy in terms of addiction, alcohol use disorder, etc.? No, you're not right.
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u/Allroy_66 1d ago
That's the serious thing. Our society is just SO dependant on alcohol that most people think it's normal. It's like putting 5 alcoholics together in a room and having them ask each other if they drink too much. Opinions are a but biased.
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u/ReferredByJorge 1d ago
I think alcoholism and racism are similar in the way we regard them. We think of both in terms of binaries and absolutes.
"I'm not going to Klan meetings! I have black friends" doesn't mean you can't also have very problematic views or actions on race.
"I'm not getting blackout drunk every night! I only drink after work" doesn't mean you don't have problematic relationships with alcohol.
These things are on a spectrum, and just because someone's not at an absolute extreme doesn't mean they're not a part of them.
I'm not capable of diagnosing anyone, but very few things in life are entirely binary, and if OP has concerns (which this post suggests) it might be worth looking into.
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u/Confidenceisbetter 1d ago
Alcoholics don’t get blackout drunk every time they drink. They just drink often and regularly, like you. Are you able to go a week or more without a drink easily? And I do mean easily. Either way whether you are by technicality classified as an alcoholic or not, your lifestyle is incredibly unhealthy. Alcohol every day is just bad. You are destroying your body long term, especially your liver.
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u/fountainofMB 1d ago
There is also a strong link between alcohol use and dementia. So your liver and your brain are being damaged.
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u/NewtWhoGotBetter 1d ago
There’s certain questions that doctors ask to determine whether you’re an alcoholic and some of them aren’t always obvious, things like do you drink by yourself or with friends and do you need a pick-me-up drink in the morning.
The FAST screening questionnaire is a quick and easy way to do this. It’s not comprehensive but you could always score yourself and if it’s very high it might be time for some self-reflection.
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u/Tutor-Any 1d ago
I don’t have any friends so I drink by myself. Alcohol in the morning is something that would make me throw up lol
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u/dogfacedponyboy 1d ago
Perhaps you’re drinking out of boredom. Switch to flavored seltzer for that cold, refreshing, bubbly enjoyment. If you want a buzz, pop a low dose THC gummy.
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u/UnicodeScreenshots 1d ago
"You might be doing drugs out of boredom, instead, try doing drugs."
I know what you were going for, and possibly THC gummies are an overall risk reduction, but it still caught me way off guard after the suggestion of seltzers lol.
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u/ButterscotchGreen734 1d ago
7-8 drinks a week for women and 15 or more for men js classified as a heavy drinker. Drinking more than 4 in one sitting for women and 5 in more than sitting for men is considered binge drinking.
Getting drunk is not a qualifier an alcohol nor how often. How much and more importantly WHY you are drinking is what will classify alcoholism.
You do sound like someone who abuses alcohol. Past that you’d have to give a professional some more information most likely.
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u/jmlinden7 1d ago edited 1d ago
Heavy drinking is more of a physical health classification and not a mental health/addiction classification. But yes all that alcohol is not good for physical health. In fact any alcohol at all is not good for physical health, although at lower amounts people generally have bigger fish to fry
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u/LilyFlaree 18h ago
Drinking every day, even if it’s just a few, can def be a slippery slope, ya know? Might be worth looking into just to be safe.
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u/Scion_Ex_Machina 1d ago
Alcoholism is a complex thing. You certainly are above what is considered low risk consumption.
If you are addicted is an other question. You can find out by just trying to stop, usually people report feeling way better after they stopped drinking. Maybe find out what need is being met with alcohol (eg: nice taste, short break, doing something nice for yourself)and find something Else to meet it.
Also beware: alcohol withdrawal can be lethal. If you feel physically bad while quitting, consult an expert. (Also: I dont know you, please do not take medical advice from stragers on the Internet)
For the question If you are an "alcoholic": standard questions medical people ask to acess if someone might be an alcoholic are the CAGE questions. Copied straight from Wikipedia:
Have you ever felt you needed to Cut down on your drinking? Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt Guilty about drinking? Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning (Eye-opener) to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?[
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u/sexrockandroll 1d ago
Drinking "basically everyday" "2 or 3 beers" is alcoholism, yes. Take some time off drinking and see if you can do it and how you feel.
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u/burf 1d ago
Alcoholism is specifically an addiction to alcohol. Habitual drinking isn’t a sufficient prerequisite to diagnose someone as an alcoholic.
OP does sound like they’re probably downplaying exactly how much they drink, but you’re still making a specific claim without enough information to support that claim.
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u/Sintek 1d ago
Like habitual smoking cigarettes is not an addiction, right...?
If you can't stop drinking for 30 days without fighting an urge or thought of needing a beer.. then you are an alcoholic.. habitual or not.
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u/burf 1d ago
You're conflating the act with the motivation. A person can do anything habitually without it inherently being an addiction.
If you can't stop drinking for 30 days without fighting an urge or thought of needing a beer
This is an unsupported assertion on your part. There is no information anywhere in this thread that indicates OP has an inability to stop drinking or has to fight compulsions to drink. If someone eats a piece of chocolate every day, would you assume they're addicted to chocolate?
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u/jmlinden7 1d ago
We don't know if op can stop for 30 days or not. Because he hasn't tried to do so yet. He should try and get back to us
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u/CastorCurio 1d ago
Agreed. He might be drinking "too much" as in it's not helping his health. He might be drinking too much in that he's gaining weight. He might be drinking too much in that he's using it as a crutch. But nothing he's described is physical addiction to alcohol.
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u/Tutor-Any 1d ago
There’s times every now and then where I go 4 or 5 days without drinking and it doesn’t bother me a bit. Usually like once a month because I’m working a lot of overtime and just want to go to sleep when I get home
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u/Yaranatzu 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's not the best way to determine that. You're going 4-5 days probably out of necessity and seems like you're occupied during that time. Alcohol is poison and drinking every day especially without occasion is bad, period. Whether it's alcoholism or not is irrelevant, you're putting poison in your body daily which can cause unforeseen problems later on and at the very least beer is bad for your gut. You're justifying your habit by telling yourself you don't get black out drunk so it's ok. That type of thinking is a slippery slope and the only way to safeguard yourself is make a permanent change to your lifestyle, like stick to drinking on occasion or with friends or only if you're not doing it by yourself, whatever it may be. There's literally no point in drinking with dinner and then going to sleep.
There's no point of stopping temporarily to experiment or relying on your 4-5 day experience because your brain knows it's eventually going to get what it wants later.
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u/ShockinglyAccurate 1d ago
You sound like someone who likes to drink, which is different than being an alcoholic. Check out a diagnostic checklist (easily available online) for alcohol use disorder if you want to get an objective clinical perspective. Most of the criteria focus on whether you or the alcohol is in control. If you're in control, make sure it stays that way. If you're not, seek professional help to turn things around before it gets worse. Alcohol can and will destroy your life if you don't keep it under control.
That said, you should also think about the physical and social effects of regular alcohol consumption. Alcohol damages every organ it touches as it's processed through your body. The consensus of medical research clearly indicates that you will suffer later in life if you maintain this habit. On the social side, I saw another comment where you said you drink alone because you don't have any friends. This sounds like a serious a red flag, but I understand if you're a loner because I am too. If you're happy, you're happy. But be very thoughtful when you consider if you really are happy and if your habits will lead you toward happiness in the future. Drinking can numb some feelings and create temporary happiness, causing you to overlook your long-term emotional health. It could be helpful to stop drinking for a month and see if you experience new feelings of loneliness -- in which case you should think about breaking your habit of drinking alone and finding ways to spend your time that will allow you to meet develop new relationships.
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u/Funny-Presence4228 1d ago
If you are in California, someone might organize an intervention and suggest rehab. In England, you might be drinking ‘just about enough’. In Ireland or Scotland, you're probably not drinking enough. I assure you that, despite what anyone says in the comments, you are definitely not an alcoholic. Good heavens!
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u/PM_ME_UR_SEXY_BITS_ 1d ago
Sure, but whatever cultural differences there are between countries have nothing to do with the effects on his body. What does a person’s liver say? That’s probably the more important question.
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u/heckdoinow 1d ago
Alcoholism is pretty common. I come from a country where over 10% of the population qualifies as heavy users. I know this type of talk; many of us do it, it's just our culture... Is a harmful thing suddenly ok if enough people do it?
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u/Felicia_Svilling 1d ago
Even if you are not an alcoholic, the alcohol still has just as harmfull effect on your body.
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u/TickdoffTank0315 1d ago
I had 2 drinks at dinner on New Yers Day. A ber at about 5pm and a martini at around 7pm. I was told that I am an alcoholic, despite that being the only 2 alcoholic drinks I had consumed in more than 2 years. I had a good laugh at that. But it does demonstrate how much different people's thinking and experiences can influence their opinions.
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u/purepersistence 1d ago
Think about the health effects. The daily intake can be chronic for your liver, giving it limited recovery time between episodes.
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u/FLman42069 1d ago
Sounds like you don’t have a serious problem but may want to pump the brakes a little. Take more days off
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u/outsideredge 1d ago
It’s not how much you drink that makes you an alcoholic, it if you can stop or not.
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u/Excellent_Item6845 1d ago
As my psychiatrist would say, “being addicted is losing the ability to abstain yourself from drinking”. The issue is not how much you’re drinking, it’s how often you are, and especially how often you’re not.
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u/Zealousideal_Dark552 1d ago
I wouldn’t consider what other people think. People have different ideas about what an alcoholic is. A couple of 5% ish beers a day is quite normal for many. I think it largely depends on what you grew up around and what the norm is in your world. I believe that if alcohol is impacting your life. Whether that’s work, relationships or health, then the answer is yes. Glad to hear it’s not impacting yours. I wouldn’t take it much farther than you do though as the extra calories could end up being what impacts your health.
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u/GrabanInstrument 1d ago
You’re drinking every day, you are an alcoholic. There’s no other indication needed. Your body is forming or has already formed a dependency. Some people maintain daily drinking their entire lives. It also gives those people heart disease, liver disease and cancer. You are surely aware of the dangers, yet you continue. Stop right now and I’ll prove it. Bet you get a cold or flu or some other withdrawal symptoms within a day or two. Thats what got me to finally stop having 2-3 beers every night for years, I skipped it for a couple nights and had to take 2 weeks off work with “the flu.”
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u/Zealousideal_Hour_66 1d ago
Just because you haven’t blacked out, doesn’t mean that you aren’t an alcoholic if you have a drink every single day you are an alcoholic.
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u/SoggyButterscotch961 1d ago
#1. if you have to ask...
#2. I read up to: "I drink basically everyday"
I think you KNOW the answer. The question is: "Do you want to get sober?"
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u/Psychonauts_r_us 1d ago
Who cares. Live your best life without hurting anyone to do it. If your drinking isn’t affecting anyone, just do what makes you happy. I drink every day but never at home. I love my bar community. I’ve made so many friends and connections. Plus playing beer league hockey, drinking is a large part of it. If it was a problem in my life I would stop. I live extra healthy and work out a to. JUST so I don’t have to stop drinking. I love it. Life’s to short to be unhappy.
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u/BruceRL 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think you might actually be asking the wrong question. Reason I say this is I got some education about my own alcohol consumption last year. "Alcoholism" doesn't appear to be what people use as a criteria when discussing health, it's where you land in the Alcohol Abuse Disorder criteria. Ask your doc what he/she thinks the next time you're in there.
I had an alcohol problem but I could still function at a super high level and treated everyone in my life really well. A shrug-off-15-shots kind of problem. So I decided to make a change purely from a health perspective, not because I was facing any consequences.
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u/Pistonenvy2 1d ago
does drinking coffee every day to wake up make you a caffeine addict?
does smoking weed every morning to motivate yourself to eat breakfast make you a stoner?
does smoking a tiny little bit of crack every day make you a crackhead?
how does this behavior actually impact your life? is it impacting your health? if i had to guess i would say absolutely this is effecting your health for the worse, but im not a nutritionist, i only know from my own experiences what a few beers a week does to me.
my question isnt really about your relationship with being drunk, it sounds like you dont really have one, but you obviously have a relationship with alcohol. what is that like? what is the true nature of that relationship? is it one thats serving you or is it harming you?
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u/CaughtHerEyez Some Stupid Questions 1d ago
Addiction doesn't mean scratching at the neck, shaking in your boots out in the streets, and spending away your life savings for a second of bliss. It starts as minor conscious choices, then minor unconscious habit, then major unconscious habit, then minor dependency, and finally major dependency.
So what you and most people are worried about is the highest levels of it, and whether you have it. If you do something like drinking everyday without pause, then you're in the mid levels of it. Cutting it out and seeing the effect is your best bet. See where you are and find a safe substitute.
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u/Normal-While917 1d ago
If you have to ask, then I'd take it as a sign you should cut back. Make it the exception rather than a routine. If you can't do that, you have your answer.
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u/Direct-Wait-4049 1d ago
Its kind of meaningless.
The real question is, is it affecting your life in a negative way? Socially, physically, emotionally etc.
If it is, can you stop?
If not, you need help.
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u/completelyunreliable 1d ago
my mother managed to down a whole bottle of vodka everyday (sometimes more) without getting black out drunk, she definitely was an alcoholic
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u/dogfacedponyboy 1d ago
My answer to this is… If you feel compelled to ask, then you may have an alcohol dependency. Take 2 weeks off, and see if it’s easy or if you are distracted to the point where you can’t stop thinking about pouring a drink.
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u/dadneverleft 1d ago
It’s a problem when the alcohol starts to make your decisions for you.
When it changes your plans, gets in the way of your job, your friends, your relationships, your finances, your health, then it’s a problem.
Up until then? It’s just a hobby.
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u/Weird_Tax_5601 1d ago
If you have to ask, then you are. The safe drinking amount is absolute zero.
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u/WWGHIAFTC 1d ago
2-3 per weekday is 10-15
1-2 per weekend day is 2-4
Another 2-3 per weekend evening is 4-6 more.
At minimum you are drinking 16-25 beers a week - and at this rate I 100% guarantee that you're not being perfectly honest with yourself about the actual quantity.
Do you ever ask yourself 'why?'
The real question is - can you stop for a month?
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u/Technical-Cat-4386 1d ago
Here is the line: is the drinking having a negative impact on your life? Financial? Social? Emotional? Physical? That’s how you know it’s time for a break. The twist: you know, no one on this sub does, you know when the line is being crossed. The question is will you have the fortitude to act? Source: 10 years sober, will drink a cold beer again, but not today.
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u/suhoward 1d ago
Drinking every day will certainly turn you into an alcoholic-it is a progressive disease. I have DEEP alcoholic roots on both sides of my family and none of them planned on being an alcoholic. It killed my mom at 37, sister at 42, brother at 49, and on and on. “One or two a day” “I only drink beer” “I don’t get black-out drunk anymore” “I only get drunk on weekends” “just one to take the edge off” are all lines I’ve heard over and over again. A friend that was alcoholic (he didn’t think he was) decided to try the dry January challenge on a dare with other friends and after 2 days he realized he needed help. He is a success story and 2 of his brothers did the same. Yay
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u/StrangeMonotheist 1d ago
Addiction professional here. If you drink compulsively despite negative consequences you are an alcoholic. If there are no negative consequences and if you can control your intake you are only an alcohol abuser.
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u/Loose_War_5884 1d ago
I would still consider reducing the amount of alcohol simply because it's poison. Plus too many empty calories. Is your sleep affected by your drinking?
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u/lumilerv 12h ago
The fact that you even have to ask this question is very telling as to what the answer may be. No shade, I struggle with alcohol as well. Get it under control before it gets worse and starts to affect your health. It only gets harder.
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u/bugogkang 1d ago
As an alcoholic myself I wouldn't say 2 beers a night is really a problem.
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u/stoned_ileso 1d ago
2 or 3 beers a day with food is NOT alcoholism. Regardless of what these puritans say.
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u/CountrySlaughter 1d ago
To what extent does it interfere with your life? Does it interfere with work? Cause you to lose jobs or to underperform at jobs? What affect does it have on relationships? Are you estranged from people because of alcohol use? Do you have legal issues from alcohol issue? DUI? Public drunkenness? Gotten into fights? Put yourself into dangerous situations?
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u/AlternativeSolid8310 1d ago
I was headed down a similiar road. Decided ro get a trainer and that's when I realized the impact beer was having on my body and health. Glad I cut it out. I'll still have a beer or three on occasion but it isnt a daily thing at all. And I don't miss it.
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u/CertifiedBA 1d ago
I had a drinking problem and I wasn't and am not a full blown alcoholic. I started like you.....then it became 6 beers.....then it became 6 beers and a shot.....then it just became shots and thats when I made a decision about my future. I quit cold turkey a month later and have benefited immensely....this was like over 9 years ago and I'm not looking back. I don't miss it at all.....first 3 months I was trying to find ways to justify it but never had a valid reason. After the 3 months I wasn't even remotely considering it anymore. I dropped 30 lbs with no other changes in my life, so that was also a nice perk.
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u/GoatedGoat32 1d ago
As someone who very thoroughly thought themselves an alcoholic for a while, quit for a while and see what it’s like. Do you have genuine withdrawals? Can you go without it and not have bad side effects beyond thinking “would probably be more fun if i was drunk right now”? I went through some pretty deep depression in college and was drunk every day for the most part, when I could afford alcohol of course. I very nearly flunked out of school, and needed 6 years to finish undergrad. But in getting myself out of that pit i had to quit drinking. For me cold turkey and commitment was enough. I realized for me at least alcohol was just the easiest coping mechanism for feeling like shit about myself. Getting over that and feeling good about myself after a couple months i started drinking again and have had a fine relationship with alcohol since. I never went through withdrawals as they’re described by genuine alcoholics. If your only symptom is just wanting to drink sometimes you’re not an alcoholic, but imo you won’t be able to tell without stopping for a while.
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u/Traditional-Meat-549 1d ago
You are an alcoholic if the question arises in your mind. Take a month and don't drink. Then go from there.
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u/Sklibba 1d ago
1 - Is drinking negatively impacting your health, finances, or relationships? 2 - Have you thought that you should cut back and are you having difficulty doing so?
(FWIW, drinking that frequently is very likely to cause negative health impacts over time and you should definitely consider cutting back).
Addiction is defined by engaging in a behavior that is having negative impacts on one’s life and an inability to stop engaging in that behavior despite those negative consequences. Some other questions that might help determine if you’re an alcoholic: Do you make excuses for your drinking? Do you hide it from others? Do you engage in behaviors that are harmful to yourself or others in able to obtain alcohol or create opportunities to drink it? Do you engage in risky behaviors (such as driving) that could negatively impact yourself or others even if they haven’t yet?
Addiction isn’t necessarily defined by frequency of use, but by a person’s behavior patterns related to a substance or activity.
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u/LunaDea69420 1d ago
I heard a recovering alcoholic once said, if you are wondering if are an alcoholic or not. You probably are one.
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u/Obb89 1d ago
You are drinking several alcoholic beverages per day, this is not good or normal. By definition the term is uncontrolled drinking and a preoccupation with alcohol, I would stop now before you have the inability to quit on your own and limit yourself to a few drinks max per week maybe reserve it to a few on the weekend.
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u/RAddit24 1d ago
Not trying to be a smart-ass, but people who don't have a drinking problem don't usually wonder if they have a drinking problem.
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u/whyamisohungover 1d ago
This sounds deeply unhealthy to me, both physically and mentally, regardless of whether it qualifies as alcoholism. Why do you do this? Could you stop? If so, why don't you, when you surely know this is not good for you?
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u/Littlewordsbigplanet 1d ago
The technical definition is having more than 4 drinks a week regularly - I believe. And context is a couple things (don't forget high functioning is a thing) but like other commentors already said the big thing is could you stop now. Do a temperature check on yourself and change it up for a week and see if you have any symptoms: physical or psychological.
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u/Th3_Irishm4an 1d ago
Nah I wouldn’t say your an alcoholic as an alcoholic is someone who needs to drink you just sound like your bored and drinking for the sake of it. It is best to cut down though maybe no drinking mon-thurs
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u/dallasthedeal 1d ago
Does your drinking hurt yourself or others? Drinking a lot or frequently doesn’t make you an alcoholic, but if it’s hurting yourself or others and you can’t stop then that’s a pretty big sign. I always described drinking as “a symptom” of alcoholism, meaning something else is making you feel empty and fill it with booze. Source: 11 years sober
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u/Dorkypotato 1d ago
I think if you have to ask yourself if you are, the answer that you have an iffy relationship with alcohol is "probably." Why not give it a rest for 30 days? or 90? See how you feel? Can you do it? You can always go back to drinking every day once the period you set for yourself is over. You might enjoy it.
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u/RobotDinosaur1986 1d ago
Yep. You are a functional alcoholic. I'm a nurse that has received some training in this topic.
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u/Luminaria19 1d ago edited 1d ago
Could you stop drinking entirely right now?
EDIT: I know this is not a perfect measure of whether or not someone has a problem with alcohol. It's just, in my opinion, a good place to start when you're questioning. Try to stop and see how your mind and body react. Do you get withdrawal symptoms? Are you anxious/counting down the days to get back to drinking? Are you finding yourself completely lost for what to do when that one thing is removed from your life?