Heavy drinker or alcoholic?

Question

Heavy drinker or alcoholic?

A friend of mine drinks heavily all the time. They are not antisocial with there drinking but I have noticed how often said person likes to get drunk. I have talked to my friend about the amount they are drinking and they responded by saying that they are not an alcoholic but a very heavy drinker. My question is there a difference between heavy drinking and alcoholism or is this person just in denial.

Answer 1

My partner is an alcoholic. Currently sober.
I view an alcoholic as someone who is dependant on alcohol - their drug of choice.
By dependant I mean someone who feels that they need alcohol to cope with all sorts of daily life situations. They drink if they are happy - to celebrate. They drink if they are sad - to make themselves feel better. They use any excuse for a drink and if there isnt an excuse they make one up.

If they think they cant survive without a drink even if its once a week then its a problem which may or may not be addiction.

The only person who can say categorically they are an alcoholic is the person themselves. It often takes reaching rock bottom - means different things to different people - to make them admit it to themselves. Often takes even longer for them to admit it to someone else.

An alcoholic is not just someone who sits on a park bench drinking cheap cider. Like people addicted to all sorts of substances, alcoholics can hold down jobs, have family lives etc. Its not till it starts to affect those areas that anyone identifies a potential problem.

If the person you refer to is in denial then no amount of coaxing or talking by you will make any difference.
My advice would be catch them when they are sober one day and tell them honestly that you feel they have a serious problem and you are concerned about it. If they want help you will help them to get it and be there for them. That is as much as you can do, other than checking your own behaviour for signs of "co-dependency" - friends and partners often enable alcoholic behaviour knowingly or not. Sometimes its easier to give in for a quiet life. Sometimes you fear losing them so you give in.

At the end of the day, the only winner is the bottle and for an alcoholic that bottle will take priority over everything including his or her own life, until and unless they decide enough is enough.

Best of luck

Answer 2

Binge Drinkers are not Alcoholics an alcoholic cannot stop drinking and some rarely get or even look drunk, but will be.
There are many different types of Alcoholics but the main thing is they cannot face the day without having a drink,and sometimes means all day everyday, I knew one who went to work drunk but know one knew.
They even bring alcohol to work with them and drink on the way to work,so if your friend is doing this then yes he's an Alcoholic if not, he just has a drink problem
Two hands and only one mouth lol.

Answer 3

There is a very fine line between being a heavy drinker and an alcoholic. Are they drinking at all times of the day and get cranky if they aren't drinking then i would say to me that is an alcoholic. A heavy drinker is someone who likes to have a drink straight after work and drinks alot. I drink heavily on the weekend and after work but i wouldn't class myself as an alcoholic. I just enjoy not having to face reality. That may be exactly what these friends of yours are doing they may have problems and prefer to escape the reality of it.

Answer 4

He is alcoholic without a doubt. Ask him to not have a drink for a week and see if he can stay off it. If he is not actually an alcoholic at this time then he will soon become one as this is how most alcoholics start. They think that they are in control but there is a stage where control is not possible. You sound as if you are concerned about him and a good friend. If he doesn't listen to you then he is in denial.

Answer 5

AA has a pampplet in which it asks a person (drinker) how to tell if they are an alcoholic, or your friend in this case.
It runs through a number of Q's like; ......well it just so happens I founds one.
!) Do you drink because you have problems? To relax?
2)Do you drink when you get mad with other people?
3)Do you prefer to drink alone rather than with other people?
4)Are you slipping upDue to your Drinking/ on your job?
5)Did you ever try to stop drinking - & fail?
6)Have you begun to start drinking early in the day or before/during work?
7)Do you Gulp your Drinks?
8)Do you ever have loss of memory due to your drinking?
9)Do you lie about your drinking?
10)Do you ever get into trouble when your drinking?
11)Do you get drunk when you drink even when you not try to?
12)Do you think your a 'Man 'or 'Woman' because you can hold your liquor?

This is a very personal thing & only the drinker themselves can answer this.
If you have answered yes to one or more to the above Q's, you probably are an alcoholic.
This is not for anyone to judge you. Alcoholism is a rough word to deal with, but it covers all ages, colours, races, religions, rich or poor! It does not disciminate!
To the friend who wrote this, You could visit or ring Alcoholics Anonamous, -theres one where you are, to see how they can help you or if it's affecting your life, or has done, you could seek out Al-Anon.
Please never acuse or try to take the drink off this person.
They have to admit it them themselves. And ask for help. Be a friend to this person, but it's best not to buy or encourage them to drink.
Be gentle to them & support them in their recovery.

Answer 6

If they are young they could become alcohol dependent/alcoholic. If they have been a heavy drinker for a long time I think it would be fair to say they are an alcoholic. I hate labelling people but a 'very heavy drinker' sounds better than alcoholic so they could be in denial.

Answer 7

It is semantics and that person is probably in denial.

The actual amount a patient drinks is not in the definition of an alcoholic. I prefer this one: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.

On the lighter side, because the definition is so subjective, I have often heard this one : An alcoholic is someone who drinks more than his doctor!

Answer 8

This is a difficult situation to assess. While there is most definitely a potential for your friend to be an alcoholic, so far it sounds like this person is simply an indulgent mess. Reckless to a fault and unconsciously punishing his/her body as a consequence. I think it also depends on his/her lifestyle. If this person is a college student, typically that type of environment accomodates obnoxious partying and heavy drinking. But for a more mature adult to partake in such activity is highly questionable. I suggest continue to analyze this person's behavior and see how far it progresses. Rely on your intuition and you will find the appropriate answer to your question. Good luck and take care!

Answer 9

Do they drink alone, or is it only with people? Can they get by without drinking on any given day? Alcoholism usually implies an addiction that they can't stop. Whereas heavy drinking is just an ability to drink a whole lot.

Answer 10

Not sure really. I didnt even think of it until early last summer. I was coming back from a party at the beach (which is a 3 hour drive) and contiued to drink on the way back as well. At first I was fine...just real happy and buzzed with no motor skills loss, I passed several cops and they didnt stop me. As I got about about 30 miles from my house I started feeling dazed. ...I just remember kinda drifting in and out. I soon had little Idea even where I was or where I was going. I guess about alittle after sunrise I awoke with my face in an airbag. Still dazed I drove to the nearest gas station..where I passed out. I awoke to a cop knocking on my window...Failed a breath test with a .12 and this was about 3 hours since my last drink. The court seems to think im an alcoholic....