2 questions ... how much do u have to drink to be considered an alcoholic?

Question

and if you drink at night and work out and still eat healthy is it possible to still be healthy and be in good shape? i try not to drink but after a couple its hard to stop ... i dont want anybody critisizing or saying how bad it is i know .. only answer if you can help me out and answer my questions ....

Answer 1

It really isn't a question of how *much* you drink, but how *often* you drink.

If you drink mostly on a Friday/Saturday night, because it's the thing to do, you're more than likely okay. But, if you drink every single day/night and find that you "need" to drink, and drink a lot, then you might have a problem.

Take a good look at what you're doing. If you feel you have to have a drink to get through the day, you may have a problem. If you need one at lunch to handle the stress of the rest of the day, you may have a problem. If you have to have one (or a dozen) at night to relax, you more than likely have a problem.

If you still feel unsure about it, talk to your doctor, before joining any self help groups. He/she will be able to tell you if you have a problem, and will then suggest different options to you. Pick the option that works best for you, and stick with what ever program you join.

Good luck.

Answer 2

"i try not to drink but after a couple its hard to stop"......this is a good  indication that you most likely have an addiction.

Answer 3

if you drink everyday and more than 1. A glass of wine does has  medical purposes ,it thins the blood. Italians live along time with a glass of wine a day. Not a tumbler full but 4-6oz.

If you crave the taste of a beer try "near beer".

You have the chance of becoming a diabetic later on in years if you drink a lot now.or loosing your liver. Control it. The next morning hangover should help you stop. It could lead to blackouts.

Answer 4

Perhaps my idea of alcoholism is not what "they" define it as.  But, "they" also define binge drinking is 5 drinks in a day -- depending on how its spaced out, you may not even feel it, yet the connotation of "binging" is to get wasted and end up doing stupid stuff.  That's aside from the fact a true binge is usually a lost weekend sort of situation.

Anyways, as I see alcoholism, it is drinking alcohol to the point where your own life is impaired -- physically, mentally, financially, and/or romantically.  Whether this means your wife is divorcing you, you get fired or lose productivity, you can't think because of the hangovers, or you are physically unable to go without a drink (shakes, etc).  This does not have any dependence on how much you drink, or how frequently you drink.  If someone had a spouse that was extremely upset by 2 beers a night, and it got to the point of an unhappy relationship, then that's alcoholism.  If not drinking would save the marriage, then it's alcoholism -- you should know your spouse before marriage.

Now, in your situation, you've obviously been thinking whether what you're doing is normal or not.  You didn't say that it affects anything outside of your own free time, so I'm inclined to believe that there really is no fiinancial or romantic loss going on here.  You work out, and eat healthy -- probably not a physical problem.  Mentally, though, you say that once you start you can't stop.  That sounds like you have a problem controlling your drinking.  Since you specifically say "after a couple," your level of drinking is beyond what is beneficial.  So, over time, there may be some physical problems arising from your drinking.

See if you can stop drinking for a month.  If you can just stop drinking, then you have some control over it.  After a month, try another month.  Once you're ready, you can start drinking in moderation *or* choose to not drink.  It sounds a lot easier than it may be, though.  

BTW, since you didn't mention it, I'm assuming that you drink most nights of the week.  If your drinking and getting drunk once a month, it's not that bad, but I don't know of many people who are concerned about that level of drinking.

Answer 5

If it interferes with your life you are an alcoholic. If you have a drink or two a night and you function fine otherwise, you are fine.

Answer 6

unless you think ur an alcoholic,then you're an alcoholic!!

Answer 7

Medical professionals will tell you that more than 4 glasses of wine in an evening qualifies as binge drinking and if you do this more than twice a week, then you have a problem with alcohol. But there's a huge difference between habit forming behaviour and full on alcoholism.