What is considered an alcoholic?

14 Comments

I believe its someone who drinks a lot obviously but drinks so much that they don't even get drunk anymore. It's literally consumed their body and mind.

It's hard to consider that an alcoholic and realize, okay...I have alcoholic friends lol. My best friend along with her close friends consume alcohol like nothing. She doesn't get drunk at all. But she'll drink every chance she gets. It was fun at first and now I am genuinely worried about her. I don't think her body has had a break from alcohol since forever. Its a good thing she doesn't do any other drugs but still. Its hard to say shes an alchy not only cause shes my best friend but also cause she doesn't act like your typical alcoholic (not trying to stereotype ish) but she's really smart, she's fun, she's innocent, she's down to earth. Its just hard to face the truth. Ive been wanting to tell her this but shes gonna be like "wow you're thinking too much."

Now what bugs me is when people consider others alcoholics when they just like to drink for fun and probably are more obsessed with alcohol as opposed to addicted like they NEED IT. They just really like it. Thats what I sometimes feel my best friend and her friends are except the whole they don't get drunk anymore cause their body is so used to being consumed by alcohol. Personally, I haven't been called one, yet, but I know people eventually find out that I love drinking lol. I enjoy it, if I have a chance to get a drink somewhere, I'll probably do it. I like saying I'm a social drinker. But I'm pretty sure some people think I'm an alcoholic or heading that way and its pretty annoying. I know sometimes its a joke and Ill laugh too but other times I know they mean it especially family ugh that is so annoying. I get its family but they're just close-minded and conservative and think just cause me and a few of my cousins choose to drink at gatherings, we're bad influences and alcoholics. I know though that none of this will stop me from drinking because I'm not an alcoholic so I know when to stop and know what I'm doing.

So what's an alcoholic to you?

When you don't get drunk anymore but just drink 18
When you like drinking a lot but still get drunk 5
When you like getting drunk all the time 48
When you like drinking cause its fun and get drunk here and there 2
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 14 )
  • Ebola69
    9 years ago

    An alcoholic is someone who loses self control after a couple of drinks.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • megadriver
    9 years ago

    Me after I finish my exams and go to celebrate XD

    On a serious note. An alcoholic in my mind is someone who can't control themselves. They drink constantly, or try to do so, to be drunk. Not dealing with problems, avoiding them by getting drunk. Someone who drinks just to drink, not to enjoy whatever alcohol they are drinking.

    I know many people consider people who can hold their liquor alcoholics, but that's stupid.
    I can hold my liquor and I drink together with friends every Saturday night. That doesn't make me an alcoholic.
    Alcoholics can't control it and can't deal with life problems.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • Avant-Garde
    9 years ago

    When you get to be like my grandfather (rip). He'd spends hours upon hours in his room drinking. He would barely come out. My grandmother once told me that his drinking used to be very moderate but, at the time of her telling me, she said that he would drink more than one case a day. Yet, he never acted like the typical drunk, not to me at least.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • RoseIsabella
    9 years ago

    A person is an alcoholic when they have a dependency on alcohol to deal with life, and they can't stop drinking.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • MissDethstar
    9 years ago

    My former best friend is an alcoholic and the reason I see him as such is because he gets really drunk at least 4-5 times a week, other days he won't get drunk but he will drink a bit. The other thing that made me think he is an alcoholic is because he NEEDS it. After being sober for a day or two he tells me how he cannot wait to get drunk and he thinks about it too much. When he is very drunk he will often admit how this moment right now, is the best time of his life, that he wishes he could be like that constantly. Every time i see him he is drunk or hangover and every time we hang out it's just another party.
    I don't consider people who drink for fun alcoholic either, I think it has to be more than that.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • Fall_leaves
    9 years ago

    My grandpa was an alcoholic. I think it's when it becomes someones crutch, like in good times and bad times they resort to alcohol and consume themselves in drinking at every hour of the day. He had a flask in his hands morning to night. An alcoholic still get's drunk it's just they only start to feel normal or themselves when they're drinking.

    I enjoy drinking when I'm out with people and I drink when I have a night to myself. I've been accused of being an alcoholic before from friends that have never had a drink in there lives. Alcohol doesn't affect me as much though, I'm a calm and quiet person and I'm the same when I'm drunk. I don't think being able to keep my composure while drinking makes me an alcoholic though.

    Alcoholism becomes a problem once it starts to affect other aspects of a persons life, she could be a functioning alcoholic.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • despuit
      9 years ago

      Here here, I am an alcoholic because my body "needs" a drink all the time. Though I can maintain control over these impulses and only drink once a month or so. Usually a 24, or a 40 of gin over a day or two, not enough to be drunk or even buzzed just enjoy it is like drinking a 12 pack of coke.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • theseeker
    9 years ago

    Someone once told me you're an alcoholic if you drink to get drunk. I don't really agree though because If that's the case, a lot of people could be considered alcoholics. Personally, I don't think I'm very exciting when I'm sober, but when I'm drunk I tend to let loose and things get more interesting. To me the only time somebody should be called an alcoholic is when they've become too dependent on drinking where they have to have alcohol or their body won't function right. Pretty much like an addiction.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • thegypsysailor
      9 years ago

      Exactly right. It is an addiction, period. Some can manage their addiction and some cannot.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
  • thegypsysailor
    9 years ago

    I do not believe the amount an alcoholic drinks is as important as the regularity.
    If someone comes home each night after work and must have a couple of glasses of wine, beer or liquor, they are alcoholic, just as much as the wino on the streets. One can lead to the other quite easily if conditions become too difficult for the former to deal with.
    Most of the people we know in the cruising community seem to be functioning alcoholics, drinking a significant amount of beer every day, yet they manage to function well enough. Sailing, repairing their boats, going exploring ashore and to the market, and to the bar at happy hour every day.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      So would you say if someone were to go out to some gathering, with alcohol or not, and they want a drink or else they're gonna be bored or something, is that alcoholic? What's the difference between must and want? "I must have a drink" or else what? You're gonna leave? and if so, is that alcoholic? or else you're just gonna have a bad time and be bored? is that alcoholic?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • thegypsysailor
        9 years ago

        As below, it is an addiction. Going anywhere to get a drink (a party, bar, friend's house, etc) is what I would consider the act of an alcoholic. Going to any of those places and having a drink, if it is available would not, I think.
        This is super simplistic, but perhaps it helps.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
  • DemonicFortuneCookie
    9 years ago

    Me. *Drinks another 15 beers in record time*

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • libby.larsen
    9 years ago

    Ha! Anybody that would ever exceed 0.04% BAC is gross, animalistic, and culturally undesirable.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    -1
    -1