What percentage of the adult population are alcoholics?

Question

It seems like a lot...

Answer 1

Nearly 14 million people in the United States--1 in every 13 adults--abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. Alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. People who start drinking at an early age--for example, at age 14 or younger--greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.

Answer 2

Not all alcohol abusers or people who have problems relating directly to alcohol are alcoholics.

Of course, that depends on whose definition of "alcoholic" you're using. I would define alcoholism as a physical addiction to alcohol. Of the 7-8% of the adult population who abuse alcohol, less than 1 in 5 are physically addicted.

That does not mean that people who have problems with alcohol wouldn't benefit from quitting.

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous gives a description of an alcoholic as a skid-row bum, but in the rooms they say "no one gets here by accident" and everyone introduces themselves by saying, "Hi, my name is _____, and I'm an alcoholic.

Many people go through a phase around college age (whether or not they attend college) where they abuse alcohol and/or drugs. The vast majority of these people mature out of it, and quit or learn to moderate on their own.

Answer 3

An alcoholic is someone whose life has become unmanagemeable due to drinking alcohol, obsessing about alcohol, blacking out due to Alcohol, drinking in the morning, binge drinking, it becomes the primary focus of an individual. It does NOT mean you are physically addicted. I was not and I am definitely an alcoholic. The only thing I have control over, is the first drink...beyond that, it's game on.