Is this Alcoholism?

Question

My boyfriend holds down a 8-5 job, M-F, and is very responsible and reliable. He is, in fact, responsible in all areas of his life. The thing that I wonder about, though, is that he drinks 3-6 beers every single night, after 8 pm- on weekdays and weekends. He never gets nasty-drunk, just kind of silly-drunk. Anyway, I have never seen him go a night without drinking his beer. Even when he goes camping, he takes the beer or vodka with him in his backpack, to have at night. Is there such a thing as being an alcoholic who only drinks at night, and also is very responsible and holds down a job, and is always reliable?

Answer 1

Drinking every night is a sign of alcoholism. But he is a funtional alcoholic. I used to be a funtional alcoholic. Things changed, and eventually I bit off more than I could chew. For the moment he is handling his drinking. He is working, he isn't drinking during the day. And he isn't going out and fist fighting, or doing other crazy behavior. As long as he isn't harming anyone or himself I don't think he has a problem. As long as he doesn't get a DWI or worse while drinking, he should be ok for now. If he does get in trouble though, the system will make him go to meetings or face jail. I hope he stays funtional and doesn't let it overtake his life. There are millions of people who can handle a job, and drink in the evening. There are even non funtional alcoholics like Ted Kennedy who still keep on trucking, but he has alot of money.

Answer 2

Just because he likes his beer does not make him an alcoholic. Apparently he can handle his liquor because you said he is responsible in all areas of his life, reliable and holds down a 8-5 MF. Let him relax. It's hard work putting up with a woman who worries about his drinking when everything else is going just fine. When (and if) his drinking interferes with the other aspects of his life, then it would be cause for concern. An alcoholic, as defined by the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, is a person who has 'lost control' of their drinking. I have been a sober member of AA since 1984 and would not be interested in trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. He may have some difficulty in giving it up completely, he may become an alcoholic at a future time - but right now you need to look at why you're concerned about his drinking and not look at his drinking. It is possible to nag him deeper into the bottle.

Answer 3

Of course everybody here says he'll have a problem.

There's three ways to look at this.

1. Is it closer to three or six? Three drinks a day is actually considered healthy. If it's six and he is rather small built, it COULD (just could, not likely or unlikely) be a problem. Six drinks EVERYDAY usually is not considered healthy unless the person has quite a mass.
2. Can he stop for a day or two? If people are somewhat tense after one or two days stopping, the person usually considered borderline. If he stops for a day or two and gets very tense, angry, or unnormal, then for sure he's an alcoholic.
3. His genes. Other relatives alcoholics? If so, he has a better chance if he keeps it up for years. Some say it can take up to ten years for an adult to become an alcoholic (with daily heavy drinking) while it may just take a teenager a year. However, genes and morals play the biggest role.
4. First, foremost, and most important of all. Us guys don't change unless we want. Trying to get him off of it may do more harm than good. Move on if you don't like it. Good luck and hope all goes well.

Answer 4

my father is an alcoholic and yes he just drinks at nights most of the time. he holds down a steady job and is actually over a group at his job. There are different types of alcoholics i have came to find out. my dad had drank so much that he could down a whole bottle of vodka and not have any metal effects because his body is used to it but his liver is taking it badly. that many beers a day isn't healthy for anyone and i would bet he is addicted and couldn't go a day without it without becoming moody or even violent. I would talk with him about it and if it becomes more of a problem suggest AA meetings or private consoling sessions.

Answer 5

The mere fact that he cannot go without it is a concern. You should contact Alcoholics Anonymous to get a better answer. Make sure you do not get sucked into his drinking. It is just awful to loose someone to alcoholism. I lost my father and brother to alcoholism. Think of what you want in the grand finale. You don't want to invest so much into a relationship just to loose it the the bottle or some other destructive habit. Speaking from experience.

Answer 6

Yes, there is.

Challenge him to cut his drinking down to no more than 1-2 beers a night, max. It'll be better for his long-term health, and if he can't do it, then the problem will be right there for everyone to see.

If he can't, or won't, then you should probably dump him for someone who doesn't have a substance abuse problem. Sooner or later, bad things will follow people who have these problems, and you don't want to be present when this happens, trust me.

Answer 7

the definition of alcholic is a person that could not function without withdraw is the alchol was taken away. Ask yourself this...if you told your boyfriend that he couldnt have any alchol for a week...would he suffer from withdraw symptoms (cravings, ect.)...if he would he could very possibly be a functioning alcholic. for more info i would encourage you to go to http://www.nationalhotline.org/alcoholism.html. good luck!

Answer 8

well yes it is pretty much an alchoholic but he does it to calm ddown and relax from what u say
if u were working all the time woulddnt u want to kick back and relax i mean hes not ddrunk of his *** or nothing its just his was to relax

Answer 9

No, alcoholism is a feeling of needing to be drunk. Your man enjoys his booze, if it really bothers you though I would tell him.

Answer 10

Yes, there is such a thing.