How do you define an alcoholic?

Answer 1

If you control the alcohol, then you're a drinker. If the alcohol controls you then you're an alcoholic.

Answer 2

in response to all those preconceptions about alcoholics : i am an alcoholic (10 years sober now), i never had more than 2 drinks every once in a while, never got drunk, it never interfered with my work, life, health, relationships, money, etc. so all of the stereotypes here do not apply to every alcoholic. some people are just heavy drinkers, not alcoholics. it does not matter, how much, or how often you drink, what matters, that you cannot stop completely. alcoholism is classified as a disease by the medical community, it is a sickness of the body, mind, and spirit. we don't "diagnose" others as alcoholics in AA, we are just there to carry the message of experience, strenghth, and hope, to those, who still suffer.

Answer 3

A person who depends on alcohol daily to be part of the world. Alcoholics can be high functioning ie: perform well at work and interact well with family and friends or lower functioning and do half or none of the above. Alcohol dependence eventually results in even the high functioning alcoholics becoming a risk to themselves and to others due to brain and other organ damage. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

An alcoholic is someone who feels they cannot function normally without a drink. To begin with they might seem normal to the outside world and then people will begin to notice frequency of smelling of alcohol on their breath, slurred speech, etc etc.

They will become secretive about it, and quite adept at hiding the bottles, hiding the drink in something else etc.
They will often eat mints or chew gum to hide the smell. Or, in some cases raw onions.


They will become defensive when confronted about their drinking.

However, not all people who drink are alcoholics.
Not all people who smell of "pear drops" - which is similar to wine or cider - is alcoholic. This can happen when someone is on a high protein diet, or suffering knowingly or unknowingly from diabetes. And if they have not been drinking of course they will deny it and feel aggrieved at the continual accusations. (I know, I have been there!)
Not everyone who is sucking peppermints, or eating raw onions is an alcoholic. So, please get your facts right before you go around accusing people and then going "Ah, he/she is denying it, therefore it must be true!"

Yes if there are bottles lying around in inappropriate places etc then they might have a problem.

When all is said and done it is up to the sufferer to decide to get help in kicking their problem, and the last thing they need is negative input from others.

That will just antagonise someone and drive them further into hiding. Be sensitive. Alcoholics generally do not feel very good about themselves in the first place, they do not need more guilt and shame and fear of judgement heaped on them.

Answer 5

Q. How do you define an alcoholic? A. An alcoholic is anyone who has alcohol interfere with his life, where it has caused chronic health or financial problems or problems in personal relationships.

Answer 6

What an interesting question that I have often wondered about!!!

If I open a bottle of wine, I have to finish it.... but I don't do that on a daily basis, or even a weekly one. Maybe a Friday OR a Saturday night. I think that probably makes me a "binge drinker" rather than an alcoholic. I hope so, anyway!!!

Answer 7

I think there are two types of alcoholics. Those who drink and get very drunk, act crazy etc and those who are 'gentlemen' alcoholics, i.e. behaviour appears perfectly civilised but they always always have a drink on the go. I remember my friend's father always had a glass of whisky in his hand. He was perfectly normal, polite etc and I didn't think anything of it as a child but thinking back I realise that glass of whisky was never far away so I'm guessing he was an alcoholic.

Answer 8

a person that has lost the ability to control or restrain their intake or desire to obtain alcohol to the extent that the desire for consumption of alcohol supersedes any other priorities in normal daily living eventually leading to severe health issues and the dependency of their body on receiving alcohol at regular interim or they will physically become ill due to dependency

Answer 9

There are diff. types of alcaholics. Some need it every day , as soon as there out of work it's the bar , or anywhere they can get the drink.Then we have those that show up to work after having 1or2 allready.Then there is the weekend warrior he's drunk or loppy most all wkend , and almost every wkend. The dependency is different for all alcaholics .When you see some who are down and out on the street some call them bums , but some are smart and had good jobs but the alcahol got the best of them .

Answer 10

Alcoholism is a disorder characterized by excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages and results in the inability to function socially and psychologically.

So, an alcoholic suffers from alcoholism.