I like to drink...a lot

[Peaceful Guy]

i don't think asking about your drinking means you have a drinking problem.. that makes sense to some extent but people frequently ask stuff around here like, "am i being mean because i won't let my BF **** my best friend?" surry, i know that's extreme but saying that just because he's asking about x means he is x is oversimplifying things, even if its true. ive actually been thinking about this myself recently.. sometimes i drink too much alcohol, sometimes its okay.. sometimes i drink too much coffee, or too many soda's, usually its great... sometimes i eat to much crab soup and i get a tummy ache.. i dunno, you guys see what im saying? also, i don't think alcohol turns mother teresa into bad boy biker.. maybe people do stupid **** (or silly depending) when they're drunk but you don't go from being a caring person to a total ******* because of any substance. i think that part of being an adult is learning to moderate activities (any) so that they are in balence with the rest of your life. alcohol can definitely take things out of balence.. for example, if you drink to the point of missing your kids stuff ALL the time, or keep going to bed without brushing your teeth.. but you can also drink beers at night, instead of soda, instead of tea, water.. and go about your business. now, ive enjoyed reading all of your ideas and i think you've all got good points and thoughts on this.. which to me reminds me that its very much a personal choice. its what you're comfortable with. so instead of using labels like alcoholic etc.. are you comfortable with it?

Edited April 26, 2010 by Peaceful Guy
left a word out

[Mr White]

High risk drinking is defined as follows:

 

For men: up to 4 drinks a day BUT no more than 14 drinks a week

For women: up to 3 drinks a day BUT no more than 7 drinks a week

 

(these are NIH clinical guidelines, not crazy AA talk)

 

So, if you are a woman and drink 2 drinks *every* night, you are in a high risk category for developing alcoholism. The primary determinant of whether one becomes alcoholic is the frequency of consumption and the amount consumed. In other words, ANYBODY will become alcoholic if they drink enough long enough.

 

As a former problem drinker on my way to alcoholism, I can attest the power of denial is impressive. One of the first sign of trouble is all the little rules you invent for yourself - e.g. "I only drink after 6 PM", "I only drink beer" etc.

 

as other have pointed, if you ask yourself if you drink too much it is actually very big red flag that you probably do...