- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Cincinnati Babies
Alcoholic? A poll
I had a rather interesting convo today about alcohol today. I was a little surprised by it and thought I would put up a poll to see what others think.
The convo was about what constitutes an alcohol "problem". In a nutshell, other person felt that a glass of wine with dinner most nights of the week = alcohol problem. And if the person had say two glasses of wine, several nights out of the week, that = alcoholic. Finishing a whole small bottle in a night = you should be in AA yesterday. I did not even touch on hard liquor with this person. I am sure one shot would have been = to alcoholic. This person labels people as ETOH abuse under those parameters in a health care setting. I was (completely) surprised at their veiw point. I think almost everyone I know would be considered as having an alcohol problem in his eyes.
So, in your opinion, how much is too much? How much would one have to drink in a day or a week for you to label them as having a "problem" or "alcoholic". I am NOT trying to stir drama, so please let everyone share their personal opinion without casting conviction or judgement. I would love to hear honest answers.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Alcoholic? A poll
IMO, a glass of wine with dinner is nothing. It's normal in other parts of the world, and no one would bat an eye if it were a daily thing. I think our society has led some to believe that a daily drink is taboo. 2-3 beers in an evening? Yawn. A mixed drink at bedtime? Whatever ya have to do, right? Those just don't seem like indulgence to me.
If someone tells me they drink 2 bottles of wine a night, a case of beer a day, or 10 shots of liquor a day, I would consider that extreme if they do it every day. Once a week? I wouldn't think much of it. Especially with the college age crowd.
This exactly.
I agree with E and J. If it is getting in the way of your daily life, if you are sneaking it, if you are drinking when you shouldn't be etc... then you probably have a problem.
But, since I am sure you wanted to hear our opinions on quanity, I think if you are getting wasted several times a week that is a problem. For me, that might be 3 glasses of wine, for someone else that might be 3 bottles of wine. But if you are getting sloppy drunk, can't stand up etc drunk often then I would say that is an issue. On the flip side, like I stated above, even sneaking 1 beer or 1 shot in the bathroom at Kings Island, at work, at home in the garage can signal a huge problem.
I completely agree with all of this. Unfortunately, the line of work I am in requires us to put a note on the chart if it is in "excess". I thought maybe the person who brought up the convo today was being extremely conservative in what he sees as excess. I don't look into daily functioning or anything like that. It is a number that I get, and nothing more. Maybe I should have worded my topic as "excess" rather than alcoholic? But my friend DID in fact use that term for peeps who drink a glass of wine with dinner.
I agree with pp that it is more about dependency than quantity. I have a really high tolerance and can really put some away without getting drunk (it takes me generally 6+ drinks to get tipsy) and before having Nicholas we were definitely regulars at a bar (probably part of me having a high tolerance haha). We would hang out at the local bar probably 5 days a week and I would on avg drink 3-4 drinks a night + 1 shot. Granted this was over a time span of like 5 hours or so and we were more hanging out (heck we would have rousing games of scrabble and taboo at this bar haha). I still would not have considered myself an alcoholic by any means because I had absolutely no problem quitting drinking when I found out I was pg, I had no problem with not being able to go to the bar and I knew that I didn't need to drink or get drunk to have fun.
When it comes to "in excess" from a medical perspective I would probably say that yes, I drank in excess. When evaluating substance abuse from a social work perspective I would say that someone is drinking in moderation if they have 1 drink a day or a total of 7 drinks a week (drink= 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine or 1.5 oz liquor) but probably not if they drink all 7 in one day. Anything over that I would want to know the circumstances that they are drinking on a regular basis and take into consideration their age, living situation (a person who is clearly isolated and drinking more than 7 drinks a week would be more of a red flag than a 22 year old college student for example).
Bing drinking is 4 or more drinks on one occassion for women and 6 or more drinks on one occassion for men. If you are regularly bing drinking I would consider that a problem but I also agree with warrior in that it is how dependent you are on the alcohol and how it effects your everyday life.
ETA: Is it effect or affect? I can never get those two right
I am so waiting for someone to tell me the person I had the convo with is on crack. You came closest so far. 4 drinks is not even close to 1. LOL.
The person you had the convo with is on crack
I don't think having a drink a night is a big deal if the person CAN go without a drink.
She's on crack. By her whack definition all of France, England, Germany, Spain, and Portugal are alcoholics. It's ridiculous. She needs to get over her puritanical self.
This society has demonized alcohol. All things in moderation, people.
Having said that, alcoholism is defined not by quantity but by impairment in normal functioning. Like Shawnssweetie said, it's the drinking at inappropriate times, sneaking it, relying on it, pursuing it at the detriment of other important areas of one's life, allowing it to have a negative impact on relationships, work, health, etc.
Personally, I think it's about a need. Do you *need* to have a glass of wine with every meal? If you find that you're out, do you *have* to go to the store to buy some before you can eat? Can you and do you ever choose not to have one? OR - once you start drinking, do you have the ability to stop? Some people can't stop with only one drink.
The one person I know (other than family) that I thought had a serious problem, realized it and stopped drinking on her own.
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
This definitely.
ALso, I pretty much agree with everything that everyone else has said.
Oh, and Becky, if you asked my mom - she would completely agree with the person you had the convo with.
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
If my mom were here, she would steadfastly agree with yours. She was ummmm....a prude when it came to worldly stuff.
My parents are both drug/alcohol rehab couselors. Also, my grandparents (her parents) are alcoholics, and my dad died because of her alcoholism. She used to drink, but doesn't anymore. So she's not exactly a prude, but has a jaded view.
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
So funny story along these lines. My mom, brother and I had to undergo some genetic testing awhile ago where we met with a doctor, had a counseling session, the whole bit. Well the doctor looks at my brother and I and asks, "Do either of you drink excessively?"
I was a senior in college at the time, in my last quarter, and my brother was early in his freshman year. So we just kind of stared at each other, when finally my brother says to the doctor, "Could you define excessive?"
LOL I think the doc just checked "yes." for both us.