So answer me this ATOT: which behavior is more representative of alcoholism?

[Fenixgoon]

Rum and coke is my favorite drink. There will be nights where it'll be just me around the house and I'll fix myself one or two. After all, it's my favorite drink, and I enjoy the taste.

My friend thinks this is more alcoholic-like because I'm drinking alone, not socially. I think it's bullshit, because I *enjoy* the drink and am not drinking to get drunk. What does it matter whether I'm out with people or at home? I don't get it. And I do drink socially too, fwiw.

I, on the other hand, think it's worse to drink excessively (to the point of blacking out and such). I've never understood why people will go *so overboard* that they can't remember what they did the night before, and never will understand. Plus, I like my liver functioning properly.

So, who's more right, ATOT?

 

[Tooncesthedrivingcat]

tell your friend he is wrong.

 

[coldmeat]

That's how my father's alcoholism started. Drinking a few rum and cokes every now and then. Now he starts at ~4pm and doesn't stop drinking until he goes to bed at ~9/10. Every day.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
I've never understood why people will go *so overboard* that they can't remember what they did the night before, and never will understand. Plus, I like my liver functioning properly.

Same here.

Also, I disagree with your friend.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Getting drunk = bad
Drinking = neutral

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

I think that very very few people are able to drink like that over a long period of time. In my experience (first-hand and second-hand) the person ends up being an alcoholic.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Binge drinking is much worse for you, also something more along the lines of alcoholism IMO. Or, perhaps just a less functional alcoholic ....

 

[JulesMaximus]

Both are signs that you may have a problem.

 

[dartworth]

neither

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Both are signs that you may have a problem.

any particular reason why you say this, jules?

 

[CRXican]

I wish drinking wasn't so taboo that we had to worry about crap like this

 

[rudeguy]

Its not how you drink or even necessarily how much you drink. If alcohol is running your life, you might have a problem. If you have tried to quit and can't, you might have a problem. The one common trait among all the alcoholics I know is that we can't stop at just one or two drinks. Please note that drinks shouldn't be a 44 ounce cup mixed with 1/2 coke and 1/2 rum.

But then again...what do I know?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Both are signs that you may have a problem.

any particular reason why you say this, jules?

Now you're just paranoid.


I'd consider drinking to excess to the point of blacking out to be worse. That's starting to get close to alcohol poisoning territory, which is genuinely dangerous.

If you don't drink because you "need" to, and it isn't interfering with anything, then there shouldn't be a problem. I think that the "drinking alone" thing is just some stereotype, because some people seem to think that you need to get drunk in order to have a good time with friends.

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Both are signs that you may have a problem.

any particular reason why you say this, jules?

Now you're just paranoid.


I'd consider drinking to excess to the point of blacking out to be worse. That's starting to get close to alcohol poisoning territory, which is genuinely dangerous.

If you don't drink because you "need" to, and it isn't interfering with anything, then there shouldn't be a problem. I think that the "drinking alone" thing is just some stereotype, because some people seem to think that you need to get drunk in order to have a good time with friends.

Good point. I think a lot of people use the social thing to justify getting plastered. Even still, you have people like this guys friend that thinks a guy at home enjoying a couple mixed drinks or a couple beers by himself is the "bad guy"

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I would use this frame of reference:

binge drinking once a month: no
binge drinking once a week: possibly a problem, must factor other conditions
binge drinking several days or every day a week: yes

drinking alone once a month: no
drinking alone once a week: not likely, but possible
drinking alone several or every night: yes

 

[BoomerD]

IMO, drinking alone isn't necessarily a sign of alcoholism, and neither is "binge drinking".

BOTH can lead to alcohol problems though. Drinking alone to the point of "getting a buzz," CAN easily lead to alcohol dependency..and alcoholism if it continues.

Binge drinking can also lead to alcoholism if it's done on a regular basis...and/or death. (one of my best friends in high school drank himself unconscious...then drowned in his own vomit)

IMO, there's nothing wrong with drinking...in moderation...and you don't drive after you have the first one.

For me, one's too many and ten isn't enough...so I almost never drink anymore.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I would use this frame of reference:

binge drinking once a month: no
binge drinking once a week: possibly a problem, must factor other conditions
binge drinking several days or every day a week: yes

drinking alone once a month: no
drinking alone once a week: not likely, but possible
drinking alone several or every night: yes

Its not that easy...

 

[Gothgar]

I drink at home by myself often, but I rarely get drunk...

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: NSFW

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I would use this frame of reference:

binge drinking once a month: no
binge drinking once a week: possibly a problem, must factor other conditions
binge drinking several days or every day a week: yes

drinking alone once a month: no
drinking alone once a week: not likely, but possible
drinking alone several or every night: yes

Its not that easy...

sure, but it's a better frame of reference than what the OP posted.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats


sure, but it's a better frame of reference than what the OP posted.

True. I just hear too many people say that they didn't drink like X, so they aren't an alcoholic. I don't think either of the things that the OP posted would make someone a drunk. They could be signs of trouble, but there are much clearer signs.

When in doubt, take some time off and see what happens.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysXMAOgEIq4

 

[xSauronx]

i think binge drinkin is worse, if its a regular thing. i was talking to a chick a few weeks ago who had been telling me that she basically gets sloppy drunk once or twice every weekend....but she doesnt have a problem, after all, she *never* drinks during the week. im not really sure about that...that often is a bit much.

i think drinkin alone every now and again is ok, if its not very often, or very much. i average one, maybe two drinks a week. its very rare i have more than that, even when ive been out drinking, its rare that its much at all.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: NSFW

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats


sure, but it's a better frame of reference than what the OP posted.

True. I just hear too many people say that they didn't drink like X, so they aren't an alcoholic. I don't think either of the things that the OP posted would make someone a drunk. They could be signs of trouble, but there are much clearer signs.

When in doubt, take some time off and see what happens.

I would say that if the OP has a drink or two one or two nights a week, he's probably not an alcoholic, but I would caution him to pay attention to see if that habit becomes 3 or 4 or more nights a week.

And I also would say that IMHO alcoholism does not require you to drink to get drunk, nor does it require you to drink to the point of illness or blacking out, though that is common. I would posit that having 3 or 4 drinks and getting that buzz is also alcoholism if done with regularity.

 

[Demo24]

Your friend seems to have what I call the 'college attitude' toward alcohol, where you are encouraged to drink in groups and drinking alone means you're a 'looser' or 'weird' or an 'alcoholic'. I personally think this is ridiculous, if you enjoy it and aren't drinking an insane amount then I see no issue with it. But if you're going home and attempting to drink your life away by yourself, then yes you have a problem.

 

[Descartes]

I always thought that it was the motivation behind drinking that was the real issue. If you drink because you otherwise feel you have to, can't response socially without it, you drink to get drunk, etc. that's the slippery slope to avoid.

I drink wine, beer and Scotch at home on a fairly regular basis. By regular, I mean a glass or wine, one beer and maybe 1-2oz of Scotch. I actually avoid getting intoxicated as I enjoy the taste. I don't think I've ever actually been drunk while alone.

Thinking about this again, I would think that anyone that drinks to get drunk by themselves likely has some problems.