how many units of alcohol do you need to drink a day to be classed an alcoholic?

Answer 1

An alcoholic isn't someone who drinks x amount of alcohol a day.

An alcoholic is someone who believes that alcohol is a problem for them. If you think you are an alcoholic, then you are - and no one will argue otherwise.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, the only diagnostic criteria is what YOU think.

It isn't the size of the problem - it is how it affects YOU.

There is a 'test' at the Alcoholics Anonymous website that can help people see if alcoholic is affecting thier life:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomer/isaa4u.shtml

If you are concerned about your drinking, there is lots of information about support at:
http://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/alcohol.php

Support is available from Alcohlics Anonymous
Tel: National Helpline: 0845 769 7555
Email:[e-mail]
Web: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

If you are concerned about someone elses drinking, you can Al-Anon Family Groups UK and Eire:
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

Drinkline offer advice and information for people with alcohol problems or anyone concerned about alcohol misuse. They also offer advice on sensible drinking and information on services to help people cut down on their drinking.
Tel: [phone]

If you'd like to talk, feel free to email me. Best wishes x

Answer 2

Having personal experience of alcoholism, I can assure you there is no upper or lower limit of drinks to be classed as an alcoholic. Alcoholics are from any walk or class in life. I once read that if you are on a half-bottle of spirits a day, then you had better watch out and I think that is a guideline. If you need a drink every day or night, then you have a big problem NOW. Take my advice and don't waste a lot of years in oblivion - I am so pleased I still have my kids and partner and family. Nearly lost it all. So if you need it get advice soon. Alcoholics start the day craving for a drink not too get drunk, but to keep their stomachs down and to stop feeling like death and to feel "normal". Usually an alcoholic will waste /spew up their first drinks - then they just can't stop. In my case the only thing that made me stop a binge was being so ill I couldn't drink or eat anything and woke up surrounded by empties (90 bottles was the most I had to throw out) then rehab.

Answer 3

I don't think it is as much of an amount as it is frequency and dependency. If someone NEEDS to drink at least every day, otherwise their whole world is off...then they are an alcoholic. Now, if someone drink every so often, but consumes unnecessarily large amounts of alcohol and gets sick, then that is a binge drinker. That is a huge problem as well, and the effects on the person, their family and friends can be just as bad as alcoholism, if not worse.

Answer 4

The amount is not as important as the dependancy on alcohol. If a person cannot pass on an alcoholic beverage and is constantly taking alcoholic drinks, there is a dependancy that can be considered the classic alcoholic.

Answer 5

There is not a quantitative answer to this question. Alcoholsim begins when normal social behaviors fade regarding drinking. For example, most would agree that drinking in the morning, blacking out, missing work due to being drunk or hungover, or hiding your drinking are abnormal social behaviors.

The simplest test is this: Has drinking created negative conseqences in your life over the last year? If so, seek help.

Answer 6

Basically there is no set amount..but say if you wake up, had a beer, had another beer for breakfast, went to work, kept taking little sips after you got there, and a beer for morning breaks, resumed sipping at your desk, went out for a few beers or whatever at lunch, resumed sipping from your bottle at your desk, had another beer at afternoon break, continued sipping until you went home had a drink, a few glasses of wine then a bit of TV with some beer and so to bed..waking up a coupe of times for a few sips.

That's basically 24 hours of drinking. Undoubtedly its above the recommended daily amounts, but if you do that without realising it's a problem, or if you realise if you have a problem and can't stop then you are an alcoholic.

Answer 7

It's not about how much you drink. You become an alcoholic if you alcohol drinking is hurting you of someone you love.

Answer 8

yes it is only you who can make the decision if you are or are not an alcoholic. No one can make that choice for you. I myself have been questioning my drinking for about a year, and started in the program 3 months ago, I went to my first meeting, nervous, I didn't belong there, they were very nice to me, didn't pressure me, gave me a few books to read, and I went to a few more and yes I do have a or did have a problem, I am now attending 3 a week doing very well.
There are quizzes etc but like I said it is a decision you make no one else.

Answer 9

I can't say about alcoholism, but I have read that anything more than one drink per day for a woman, and two drinks per day for a man defines you as a heavy drinker at risk for a number of health problems.

Answer 10

I drink about 3 beers or glasses of wine and I dont think I am an alcoholic, so probably more then that! They tell me at my AA meeting that I should cut it down to zero.