What’s your definition of an alcoholic?

[mead107]

Taking medication to night so no ? 

[Steptide]

I know a guy who has 2 or 3 dwi's and still drinks daily. He's an alcoholic. I also know guys like the op who I wouldn't consider an alcoholic. I drink alot of soda, probably the equivalent of what some people drink alcohol on a daily basis. I don't think I have a problem, I wouldn't think the daily drinkers do either. Biggest difference is alcohol is a poison, so long term health effects could be greater 

[RaoulDuke79]

4 minutes ago, Steptide said:

I know a guy who has 2 or 3 dwi's and still drinks daily. He's an alcoholic. I also know guys like the op who I wouldn't consider an alcoholic. I drink alot of soda, probably the equivalent of what some people drink alcohol on a daily basis. I don't think I have a problem, I wouldn't think the daily drinkers do either. Biggest difference is alcohol is a poison, so long term health effects could be greater 

On the bright side, you dont need to worry about a DUI with soda, but watch out for the dibeetus.

[bbb]

11 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Uh what?

 

in my late teens till my mid 20s I drank like there was no tomorrow despite being broke. Today, if I drink 10 times a year it’s a lot. And by drink, I mean have one beverage. Sometime in my 30s I decided that I had a problem with alcohol, and just stopped. 

 

To the OP, if you’re worried about it, it’s time to quit.

 

I don't think you followed along very well.  Either that, or you don't detect sarcasm well.

 

11 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I've never blacked out where I don't remember anything.  I've blacked out many times when I was younger but was able to recall everything the next day.  Events may not come immediately but eventually it all comes back.  

I know people that when they drink, that night is a mystery and have no clue what happened.  That would be scary for me.

 

What the hell does this mean?  Isn't blacking out when you can't recall everything the next day??

[RaoulDuke79]

1 minute ago, bbb said:

What the hell does this mean?  Isn't blacking out when you can't recall everything the next day??

That's what I thought it was. If it's not, I'm a model citizen. 

[Buffalo716]

2 hours ago, plenzmd1 said:

Just cracked my first beer of the night..pretty same ritual fro last 20 years..PTI is my trigger!!!!!

Please drink responsibly lol

 

wasnt that an advertisement or commercial on PTI for years?

 

It was Red Stipe! Hooray beer

Edited December 15, 2018 by Buffalo716

[apuszczalowski]

By definition, I believe you would be considered/classified as an alcoholic even if you have a just a drink or 2 every day if it is something you do regularly and around the same time. It doesnt necessarily mean it's bad or negatively affecting you or your life though.

 

But typically, if you feel you need to have a drink you may have a problem.

[Royale with Cheese]

1 hour ago, bbb said:

 

I don't think you followed along very well.  Either that, or you don't detect sarcasm well.

 

 

What the hell does this mean?  Isn't blacking out when you can't recall everything the next day??

 

I guess I’ve misunderstood the definition.  

[plenzmd1]

2 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Please drink responsibly lol

 

wasnt that an advertisement or commercial on PTI for years?

 

It was Red Stipe! Hooray beer

haha..yes ! I always record it and then watch about 15 minutes in arrears soi can skip the commercials..but i remember the z"drink responsibly " spot

[Nick the Greek]

On 12/13/2018 at 5:02 PM, Royale with Cheese said:

For me it’s not as much quantity but more dependency.  

 

I drink almost everyday.  Not getting drunk but a few beers or glass or two of liquor.  I get drunk maybe 3 times a year.  Some people would call me an alcoholic...like my parents.  My mom actually denied me a glass of wine on Thanksgiving because of my “drinking problem”.

 

When I think of an alcoholic, I think of someone who doesn’t have a stopping point.  They drink until the bottle is out or they black out.  It may not happen everyday or week or month....but when they start, they can’t stop.

Tell that to the cops after they pull you over. I’m sure they’d believe you. 

 

But seriously, be well brother. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Here is a blast from the past... Wow! So dated!  LoL... But the message never:

 

 

On 12/13/2018 at 4:02 PM, Royale with Cheese said:

For me it’s not as much quantity but more dependency.  

 

I drink almost everyday.  Not getting drunk but a few beers or glass or two of liquor.  I get drunk maybe 3 times a year.  Some people would call me an alcoholic...like my parents.  My mom actually denied me a glass of wine on Thanksgiving because of my “drinking problem”.

 

When I think of an alcoholic, I think of someone who doesn’t have a stopping point.  They drink until the bottle is out or they black out.  It may not happen everyday or week or month....but when they start, they can’t stop.

Does your body need it? Can you go a whole month without drinking booze.  Then maybe a few every other week...  Then shut it down for another month.

 

???

[sullim4]

I'd say an alcoholic is someone that allows alcohol to get in the way of leading their life.  Do you need a drink before work?  Can't go home to your family without stopping at the bar?  Do you hide alcohol around your office or at home (yes, I know someone who did this)?  Does your family regularly give you a tough time about drinking too much?  These would all be good signs.

 

Personally, if I'm going out to eat, I will probably have a beer, and I will drink a glass of red wine on weekend nights at home with dinner.  Occasionally I'll have a glass of wine with dinner during the week.  I will rarely have more than 2 drinks a day... maybe once every two or three months, usually at a beer fest or while wine tasting.  I almost never order a cocktail.

 

I don't like the "go x amount of time without wanting to have a drink" as the test to determine alcohol dependency.  I find it hard to eat good food without a glass of wine... does that now make me an alcoholic?  Likewise, I know of one guy that exhibited every single symptom in the first paragraph, that went without alcohol for a month and then started drinking like a fish again... so he's not an alcoholic?

 

If you want to strictly talk about alcoholism in terms of quantity, I would say that if you consciously drink to get drunk once a week or more, that's a good sign.

[Royale with Cheese]

10 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Here is a blast from the past... Wow! So dated!  LoL... But the message never:

 

 

Does your body need it? Can you go a whole month without drinking booze.  Then maybe a few every other week...  Then shut it down for another month.

 

???

 

I once dated a girl who didn’t drink so I didn’t either.  One year without a drop of alcohol.

[KD in CA]

10 hours ago, sullim4 said:

I find it hard to eat good food without a glass of wine... does that now make me an alcoholic? 

 

That’s a big one.   Water is is fine with lunch but doesn’t cut it for me with most dinner fare.  Beer or wine are key.  

[BUFFALOKIE]

On 12/14/2018 at 6:58 AM, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Uh what?

 

in my late teens till my mid 20s I drank like there was no tomorrow despite being broke. Today, if I drink 10 times a year it’s a lot. And by drink, I mean have one beverage. Sometime in my 30s I decided that I had a problem with alcohol, and just stopped. 

 

To the OP, if you’re worried about it, it’s time to quit.

I can out drink any college kid, then and now.. 

 

It has been a while, but I love to shotgun a beer with anyone.

 

I gots a problem.

Edited December 15, 2018 by BUFFALOKIE

[Augie]

34 minutes ago, BUFFALOKIE said:

I can out drink any college kid, then and now.. 

 

It has been a while, but I love to shotgun a beer with anyone.

 

I gots a problem.

 

Thursday night my wife's office had their holiday party. Afterward, all the young people went out. It was the 26th birthday for one of them, and he somehow managed 26 shots of Fireball over the evening, it has been reported. Needless to say, he took Friday off, and I’d bet it’s a good thing today is Saturday, because that sounds iffy too. 

 

When I turned 19, somebody was trying to buy me 19 shots of Wild Turkey. I did NOT get there, and I’ve never had any brown liquor since. (In fact, the only liquor I will do is an occasional margarita.) 

 

 

.

Edited December 15, 2018 by Augie

[ExiledInIllinois]

2 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I once dated a girl who didn’t drink so I didn’t either.  One year without a drop of alcohol.

Yeah... But was there dependency then?

 

My definition is all about dependency & withdrawl.  Does the body need it? Can the body feel it? And... When those cues happen can one say: "No."

 

If a person feels the effects of withdrawl, I would say they are an alcoholic IF they have to relieve those withdrawl symptoms with more alcohol.

[PromoTheRobot]

A functioning alcky is still an alcky.  I often wonder if alcohol hits some people harder? I have a friend. We go out and have a few drinks. I might feel a buzz while he becomes almost catatonic. I've had servers cut us off seeing him that way. To me he only had a few beers. Unless he's got a fifth stashed away and he's slugging it down when I'm not looking I don't understand how he gets so bad.

Edited December 15, 2018 by PromoTheRobot

[RaoulDuke79]

6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

A functioning alcky is still an alcky.  I often wonder if alcohol hits some people harder? I have a friend. We go out and have a few drinks. I might feel a buzz while he becomes almost catatonic. I've had servers cut us off seeing him that way. To me he only had a few beers. Unless he's got a fifth stashed away and he's slugging it down when I'm not looking I don't understand how he gets so bad.

Is he on any type of medication?

[row_33]

2 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

Is he on any type of medication?

 

Some are naturally that way, most were on or needed meds though