Am I a alcoholic or just a social drinker?

Question

Ok. I really don't think I'm an alcoholic but my friends/family keeps telling me that I am an alcoholic.

The only time I drink is when I go out. Usually 3 nights a month.

But here's the thing... I'm 5' 8" and about 165lbs. But when I drink, I drink liquors that have 40% alcohol or more (favorite is patron:). I usually take around 13-16 shots of alcohol within 1-2 hrs. And that usually makes me feel good. After 16+ shots, I don't remember anything and unaware that I keep drinking more (I think this is like me sleep walking...), someone even told me I had at least 25+ shots before.

Here is the weird part. I wake up most time afterward and feel so refresh and good (NO Hangover??) and like 4-5 hrs of sleep is good already (8 hrs norm).

But I do admit sometimes I do crave the feeling or drinking. And whenever I drink I have to drink at least 10+ shots within a hour. I think most 24 year olds are the same or even worse. Everyone tells me to go to AA but I think their crazy.

Answer 1

I dont think you are an alcoholic, you are able to confine your alcohol use to three times per month.  Alcoholics are generally not this way inclined.  I do however believe that you are a binge drinker - someone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol over an evening or similar time span - sometimes also referred to as heavy episodic drinking. Binge drinking is often associated with drinking with the intention of becoming intoxicated and, sometimes, with drinking in large groups.

Binge drinking in the United States is very prevalent among college students. A main concern of binge drinking on college campuses is how the negative consequences of binge drinking affect the students. A study done by the Harvard School of Public Health reported that students who engage in binge drinking experience numerous problems such as: missing class, engaging in unplanned or unsafe sexual activity, being victims of sexual assault, unintentional injuries, and physical ailments.

A fairly important health concern - the bladder may rupture if overfilled and not emptied. This can occur in the case of binge drinkers who have consumed large quantities, but are not aware, due to stupor, of the need to urinate. This condition is very rare in women, but does occur. Symptoms include localized pain and uraemia (poisoning due to reabsorbed waste).

On the whole though - your family and friends are right to be concerned...this should be enough of a wake up call.

Answer 2

I am now 28 and when I was your age my  mindframe is that this is what young people do.  But in actuality it means that you are an alcoholic.  You don't have to drink everyday to be an alcoholic but it seems as though you are not content with just having ONE drink.  Alcoholics are always about the extreme.  So if I were you I would take an Alcohol Abuse

Screening Test and then you can decide for yourself.  Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

noo theyre probly jsut ******** with your head . they dont realy thi9nk anything is wrong

Answer 4

no yout not you just have to work on balencing your drinking habbits to lower amounts once you do go out

Answer 5

25+ shots before and didnt get alcohol poisoning?? i think its awesome you dont get hangovers. if your drinking only 3 nights a month on average...then i dont see a problem...as long as your not driving! alcoholics drink daily and depend on it.

Answer 6

Good lord, that's a lot of booze!  Don't go to AA (they are nuts), but DO cut down on your drinking...I don't know how to "label" your drinking but it sure as h**l is not healthy.

Answer 7

Yes.  You need help.  You are a compulsive drinker.  Listen to the people around you who care about you.  It will only get worse.  You are displaying obvious signs of an alchoholic.

Most 24 year olds don't even drink.  You are trying to rationalize your behaviour.

Isn't it interesting how everyone else is crazy?

Answer 8

You're an alcoholic, honey.  Time to face up to it.  No non-alcoholic craves it, no non-alcoholic drinks themselves into a stupor two or three or four nights a week, and no non-alcoholic drinks that much booze that often.  

Get to AA NOW.  Good luck!

Answer 9

i think you answered your own question

you said: But I do admit sometimes I do crave the feeling or drinking. And whenever I drink I have to drink at least 10+ shots within a hour.

the term craving and not being able to stop until a certain amount has been met are signs of addiction

test yourself

go a month without alcohol and see the effects it has on you

I would say that you may have a problem

Answer 10

Alcoholics don't just drink a lot, but alcohol affects their daily lives. Do you have a job? Is it steady work? Do you get to appointments on time? Those are the kinds of questions that one needs to ask them self and if the answer is No to most or all of them, then you have a problem. However, by the sounds of it, you're a social drinker who needs to learn when to stop so you don't over do it every time you drink. The thing that's a red flag however is that you claim to crave it at times-- that's not normal.