Am i an alcoholic?

31 Comments

I don't drink much, but I drink often. I drink between 2 and 4 shots per evening, and I do this on average about 4 or 5 nights a week. I don't miss work or show up hung over and I don't abuse my wife or act like some idiot. I just drink a bit and go to bed with a book.

When I'm out of town working, I'm not allowed to drink,by company rules, and this sometimes will be 2 or 3 months at a time. I don't think about alcohol or miss it at all, but as soon as I'm back home I go back to my usual.

Be honest with me here please. Is this alcoholism? If not, does it seem like I'm on the way to alcoholism? Be honest, please.

This is textbook alcoholism	4
Its not alcolism, but its borderline	13
This is not alcoholism	16
Other (comment below)	8

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Comments ( 31 )

jaystrong

6 years ago

There's a fine line between an alcoholic who has a problem, a functioning alcoholic and those who binge. Just because you can stop for a certain amount of time doesn't mean you don't have a problem. A couple drinks every night, 5 times a week seems to be a bit much. Alcohol affects every individual in different ways. Remember your body usually changes every few years and your tolerance can change as well.
I drink one night a week and that one night usually costs me a nice hangover the next day. I use to drink a couple times a week when I was younger and could wake up the next day feeling like a million bucks. Now I feel like 5 bucks all crumpled up on the side of the road.
I guess if you have to ask if you have a problem you might feel you do some even a minor issue.

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- jaystrong
  
  6 years ago
  
  At least you're not a dick when you drink.
  
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itsamistake

6 years ago

Was in a long term relationship with an alcoholic and believe me, I do not think you have a problem. An alcoholic needs a drink almost as much as they need air to breathe. If you can go without a drink for 2 to 3 months, you definitely do NOT have an alcohol problem.

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Pumpurrnickel

6 years ago

It seems you can easily control how much you drink, so you're definitely not an alcoholic.

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- pendletonGibbs
  
  6 years ago
  
  Agree
  
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JellyBeanBandit

6 years ago

Try giving it up for a week or two and see how you do. If you can't manage it that long then maybe you are addicted.

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- lonewolf1253
  
  6 years ago
  
  He's already stated that he goes two to three months at a time without a drop on business and doesn't even miss it or think about it.
  
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  - JellyBeanBandit
    
    6 years ago
    
    That's true, so he probably would manage it just fine alright. Still though, the reason he gives it up then is because he's not allowed to drink. But maybe it'd be a different story if he's giving it up because he's not allowing himself to drink.
    
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    - barstool
      
      6 years ago
      
      Also, giving up for a while *at home* is different to quitting away on a trip. At home there's all the subtle cues that come before op's brain deciding to have a drink. So it's important that op can experience those cues and still decide not to drink.
      So yeah - just adding to what you said, it's a really good point.
      
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sissycakes

6 years ago

My brother always says if you drink alone you are an alcoholic. I am not really sure, but he is the smartest person I have ever met.

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Emokate

6 years ago

Why are you questioning being an alcoholic? I guess my thought is, you wouldn't ask the question if you weren't concerned which is a huge red flag.

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EccentricWeird

6 years ago

yes

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lonewolf1253

6 years ago

You say you go 2 or 3 months and not even miss it? Your not an alcoholic IMO. Your a social drinker. Your drinking hardy qualifies as alcoholic. Many people like to have a few drinks after work to de-stress a little and relax. But just a few drinks could blow you over the limit for driving, so beware of that. But since you drink and then go to bed, that wouldn't be an issue.

Relax and enjoy your night caps.

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Hotdogsaregross

6 years ago

The fact that you don’t miss it or think about it when you can’t drink alcohol shows that you are not addicted to it.
An alcoholic would drink the alcohol anyway and hide it even if it’s company rules not to.
An alcoholic may even take the alcohol with them to work and drink it while working.
I had a family member do this. No one found out about it. They thought his buzzed self was really how he was.

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- Emokate
  
  6 years ago
  
  How did they not smell it?
  
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  - Hotdogsaregross
    
    6 years ago
    
    He would chew a lot of gum. He kept mouthwash in his car too.
    Also the job he had didn’t involve a lot of talking with people.
    
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Unwitting

6 years ago

If alcohol causes problems in your life, mental, social, health, financial, work, legal etc and you find you're unable to quit, regardless of these problems, then you are an alcoholic. Only you can decide.

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Boojum

6 years ago

Definitions of alcoholism vary.

For what it's worth, Alcoholics Anonymous UK says that, "it may be described as a physical compulsion, together with a mental obsession. They say that, apart from having an enormous craving for alcohol, an alcoholic often gives in to the craving at the worst possible times. The alcoholic knows neither when nor how to stop drinking."

What you describe doesn't sound like it fits that, and more like you've just got into the habit of having a few drinks every night when you can.

There's conflicting evidence on just how bad alcohol is, but the current medical consensus seems to be that the stuff is just not good for us in any quantity.

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- Ummitsme
  
  6 years ago
  
  Oh that is so poetic, you Brits have a way with words. The American version basically states if it creates problems in your life you're an alcoholic. And... If you're physically dependent, as in you get the shakes and go tbrough physical withdrawals you are as well. Lucky for me I'm a non alcoholic frequent drinker.
  
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e51pegasi

6 years ago

Doesn't sound like alcoholism to me. Seems like you enjoy a drink at home.

If you are concerned why not cut back from 4 or 5 to 2 or 3 nights a week.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  That's what I think ill do. I don't think I have a problem, but I can see it getting away from me and I don't want that. I'm just gonna reduce to 2 days a week.
  
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  - e51pegasi
    
    6 years ago
    
    Good for you. Booze like most things, is a good servant, but a bad master.
    
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    - donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
      
      6 years ago
      
      wow thats profound
      
      ,,,comin from an on again off again drunk like myself
      
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LionsMane

6 years ago

Alcoholism, even if it doesn't feel like it. It's like people who smoke a bowl every day after work. They will just say, "it takes the edge off". Not that you are at all in the minority or that it means you're a bad person. I don't know your age but if you're youngish I would try to project ahead to a life A) without alcohol or B) drinking in moderation in terms number of times per week.

In general, roughly 2 nights a week is a good ballpark. One being on the weekend. This isn't a conservative website so I will be in the minority with my comments.

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karmasAbich

6 years ago

Oysters make a great relish for any occasion!

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McBean

6 years ago

If alcohol smells too good, you're body is dependent. It's the last warning you will get to stop.

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- Ummitsme
  
  6 years ago
  
  Depends on the drink. That's not a fare assesement to judge smell. I love the smell of good red wine, peaty Scotch and qulaity Mezcal. Good beer as well. Vodka or gin? No thanks to sniffing it before drinking. There isn't a bouquet than goes with vodka lol. Atleast none that I am aware of, but what do Inknow, I'm not Russian.
  
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- Hotdogsaregross
  
  6 years ago
  
  I don’t agree with this.
  I had a family member that I lived with for a couple years and he hated the smell and taste of alcohol but was an alcoholic.
  He would always tell me he hated the taste and smell but loved how it made him feel.
  He would start drinking as soon as he woke up and wouldn’t stop until he passed out. Even drinking at work. Every single day.
  I stayed the night at my friends house almost every night to avoid his behavior while he was very drunk.
  I remember one day he was puking a lot of blood and he said he was going to stop drinking after that incident.
  He started drinking again a week and half later after that.
  
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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  I guess I'm not to that point yet. Alcohol smells terrible.
  Except Apple pie moonshine.
  
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  - McBean
    
    6 years ago
    
    You can make your own Apple pie moonshine without a still. 1/2 frozen concentrated apple juice and 1/2 Everclear.
    
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[Old Memory]

6 years ago

Its said that to be an alcoholic you have to drink daily. Its called a functioning alcoholic

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