Can you ever go back to moderate, social drinking if you are an alcoholic?

Question

Has anyone ever managed to?

Answer 1

I have. I used to drink every single night, and if i cut down to 4 times a week, i thought that was improvement..but now i only drink maybe once a month and i only have a couple beers. it is very possible..you just have to change your way of thinking, and get yourself out of the situation that is causing the alcoholism..

Answer 2

Yes. Many do.

Most people who decide they have a problem with drinking, quit or learn to moderate on their own. 80% according to Harvard

However, many people who have been exposed to the idea that if they ever take a drink again, they will become raging alcoholics, even if they were never really that way before. If they believe it, it will happen. It has been shown in the Brandsma study that people exposed to AA binge drink 4 times as much as people attempting to quit on their own, and 9 times as much as people using REBT methods.

And you also have to consider: was the person REALLY an alcoholic to begin with or a problem drinker? Once a person has become physically addicted to alcohol, certain chemical responses in the brain become almost hard-wired, and it may become difficult to manage moderate drinking.

As a former alcoholic with 5 years sober, I CHOOSE not to drink at this time. While I don't believe that I would ever return to destructive drinking, I also don't see any benefit to drinking in my life today. My wife and most of my friends don't drink, so my social activities do not include alcohol, so there is no pull for me. Also, I have been working with people who have a dual diagnosis, and I would lose all credibility if I started drinking again, however moderately. If I thought I was missing anything, I'd get in a different line of work.

Answer 3

No, no, no, no. No. No. No, nein, nyet, não. No.

Where was I? Oh, that's right. No, no, no, no, no.

Clear enough for you? Look, alcoholism isn't a disease, that's just a load of drivel dreamt up by spineless pissheads who can't face the real fact - alcoholism is a behaviour pattern, something you DO, not some mysterious illness. You can't blame it on anyone or anything else, it is all down to you and the solution is simple - stop bloody drinking! I did (a year ago) and in May this year I thought "Hey, a couple of beers now and then won't hurt me - other people are responsible drinkers, why can't I be?" Because I'm an alcoholic, that's why. "One beer every now and then" turned into twelve cans a night in no time at all. I have given up again and will never touch another alcoholic drink again in my life.

So, in short - NO. Don't try, don't think about it, just stay off the bloody stuff. Nuff said.

Answer 4

No No No
The disease can go into remission, but one drink can start it all over again.
As a recovering alcoholic, let me ask you what is the point of taking only one drink? Why would I want to? If I couldn't have enough to get snot-flying drunk, why even bother?
I have trouble understanding why people drink socially.

According to statistics, I could maybe, just maybe, handle one drink. However, if I had another drink within a month, I would be off and running again.

CAROL--The AMA recognizes alcoholism as a disease.
By defininition, a disease has signs, symptoms, a progression, treatment, and outcomes. Alcoholism fits the definition.
An alcoholics brain chemistry is different from a non alcoholic. So is our digestive system. BUT I AM PROUD OF YOU!!!!!

Answer 5

Ive never been in this situation Praise God for that, but from what ive seen or heard once a person admits to being an alcoholic and gets the help they need then it becomes a day to day struggle.......I've heard people on tv and one person I took a self esteem class with a long while ago and they all pretty much said the same thing " Its not like you are cured, its more like you survive day to day and pray that you dont go back to the drink"

So, I would have to say no its not possible for a person who is putting every effort into staying sober to go back to drinking at all. That would be like a recovering drug addict returning to taking pot or cocain.....not possible......its gonna take you down the same path as you were on before and to come such a long way in recovery just to go back makes no sense.

My advice is this.....if a person is recovering from alcoholism, drugs or whatever it might be and has walked forward and made progress...stay away from whatever it is that was bringing you down......in the end you will be much better off and happier, but should you return you will be right back to sqaure one and having to start all over again........why put yourself or anyone that loves you through that all over again? ....just keep going forward and leaning on God and you cant go wrong.

Answer 6

Depends on your mindset, personality. For the majority the answer is likely no, you can't drink alcohol again without falling back into alcoholism. For others, yes - they can learn to drink in moderation.

Answer 7

I once saw a tv programme that said if you had 2 pints on 3 occasions (total of 6) in a week, you were considered to be a potential alcoholic.

That week i calculated i'd had 47 pints.

Now 20 years on, i only drink maybe 6 a week and been like that for over 10 years.
I haven't had any help from a doctor, etc. i just saw it as a phase of my life that has been and gone.

Answer 8

no i don't think you can if you an alcoholic you should never try drinking again or you will go back to the way you were before

Answer 9

No, but once you realise you are and stop forever you can achieve anything you want, alcoholics who stop drinking for good are usually very high achievers, ask Bill W.

Answer 10

I have only ever heard of one person and that was in later life. You are always an alchoholic ..........just one who either doesor does not drink a bit like a smoker who smokes or does not but always a smoker. If you have left it all behind would not risk one drink.