If someon who drank regularly (4-6 beers a day) quits drinking and has no side effects was he an alcoholic?

Question

This individual volunterly quit drinking (for about a month now), and has no withdrawels or cravings.

Answer 1

The alcoholic personality can still be there. Therefore, yes, alcoholic. It needs treatment for the reasons why the regular drinking happened in the first place.

Answer 2

I am Canadian so our beer has a much higher alcohol content, in which case I would say both are alcoholics and drunks too. I guess people feel the unemployed person should be looking for work, not sitting around drinking, and without a steady income should be spending their money on better things. Also wondering if the unemployment is a symptom of the drinking problem. IMO no one should drink 6 beers a day. Its addictive, it isnt healthy and its being a glutton but thats just me.

Answer 3

An alcoholic can not survive without a drink. If you drink 4 - 6 beers a day after work and the alcohol does not effect your lifestyle, you have a drinking problem. There is a difference between the two so I say no, they were not an alcoholic but they did have a drinking problem.

Answer 4

An alcoholic isn't defined by when, what, or how much they drink. Many alcoholics live what seem to be normal lives - they go to work everyday and provide for their families. Then they drink until they pass out at night. My father was like that.
Some alcoholics, my cousin for example, can't hold a job and eventually drink themselves to death even when they know the alcohol is killing them.
An alcoholic is controlled by the alcohol instead of controlling the alcohol. Even someone who only drinks occasionally can be classified as an alcoholic if they can't control the amount they drink once they start.

Answer 5

Does 4-6 beers per day make you an alcoholic? I doubt if that's a problem level of drinking. Certainly there should be no long-term ill effects from stopping.

Answer 6

Regardless of whether this person could be considered an alcoholic based on withdrawal symptoms - I don't know, but anyone who drinks 4-6 beers a day has some type of problem - not to mention will probably have cirrosis of the liver in 10 years. Slow suicide.

Answer 7

Alcoholism is defined as having some aspect of control on your life. If you needed those drinks, then you are an alcoholic (it is something that never goes away). It's great that you quit, but you should attend AA meetings since you stop growing emotionally when you start drinking as an alcoholic.

Answer 8

No, especially if they are in their 20's. IT is quite common to drink allot at that age. Alcoholics can't control their drinking and generally crave it as a substitution for something in their life.

Answer 9

All these definitions are typically made up by Dr's who are not alcoholic. The only person who can tell is the person themselves. Ask them to attend an AA meeting and read some of the literature. They will have to decide for themselves.

Answer 10

Definition of alcoholic:
# One whose continued or excessive drinking results in impairment of personal health, disruption of family and social relationships, and loss of economic security.
www.dphilpotlaw.com/html/glossary.html

# The term alcoholic is generally defined as someone who is addicted to alcohol. Addiction in turn is defined as a maladaptive pattern of drinking that leads to significant personal problems as defined by 3 or more of the following in the same 12 month period:
1. Drinking larger amounts or over longer period than intended.
2. Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control drinking.
3. Drinking that interferes with family, friends, or job.
4. Continued drinking despite negative consequences such as divorce, lost job, DWI conviction.
5. Tolerance, meaning that over time it takes more alcohol to get drunk than it used to.
6. Withdrawal, meaning that the person has unpleasant symptoms if they stop drinking.