When would somebody be labeled an alcoholic in your opinion?

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
When it changes your life; IE living around drinking or drinking is causing problems with other aspects of your life.

Yep, when you choose alcohol over the people in your life.

 

[djheater]

My father was in AA and sober for 32 years before he died last year, had not had a drop in that long. He would have certainly defined himself as an alcoholic, even though he had been sober that long.

My opinion on this is skewed because of my personal experience, but I'll tell you this, the only person who can tell you if you're an alcoholic is yourself. If you don't think you are, you aren't if you do you are. It's really that simple.

Now you might say, "what about the person who is ruining their lives, and killing themselves drinking, but doesn't think they're an alcoholic?" Until they realize the addiction they're a drunk, and that's a fine difference. A drunk is just a slow suicide, an alcoholic is an addict who is potentially empowered to change themselves.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Doctorweir

Originally posted by: BoomerD
My brother-in-law drinks at least an 18 pack of beer EVERY NIGHT, and has done it for most of his life.

:shocked: Houston we have a problem... 18 cans every night...wow...just wow...

I almost married someone like that. I talked to my doctor about it once and she said that when someone drinks that much, they wake up every morning already going through withdrawal.

 

[Bryophyte]

Getting drunk often is not necessary for someone to be an alcoholic. Some people have high tolerances for alcohol. The person I knew who was a full-blown alcoholic (but wouldn't admit it) drank 12-18 beers every day, but I only witnessed actual drunkenness maybe once every couple weeks, if that often.