| According to most health authorities around the world | | | | then this pattern would fit in with the above definition of |
| men should not drink more than 3-4 standard drinks | | | | an alcoholic. This does not apply if this occurs once in |
| per day, with a maximum of 6 in any one day. For | | | | a while, but it does if it happens on a regular basis and |
| women it is 2 standard drinks per day with a | | | | combined with daily drinking. A normal drinker will be |
| maximum of 4 in one day. And there should be 1-2 | | | | able to take it or leave it. They will not worry about |
| days alcohol free per week. A standard drink is much | | | | how much alcohol will be available at a party. They do |
| smaller than most people realise. It is equivalent to a | | | | not have several 'drinks for the road'. They do not |
| middy (small) of beer; a schooner (just over half a pint) | | | | have issues moderating their intake and can stop |
| of light beer; 100ml of wine (small glass) or a nip of | | | | when needed. |
| spirit. So for a wine drinker thats 2-3 small glasses a | | | | Some of the warning signs for developing a drinking |
| day. Most people at home will pour themselves a glass | | | | problem can include: routine drinking; a change in habits |
| of wine equivalent to just under 2 units. So when at | | | | (lateness for work, illness, sick days etc); physical |
| home the wine consumption can be one glass for a | | | | changes such as diarrhea, sleeping problems, higher |
| women and one and a half for men. Anything over this | | | | blood pressure. If you think you have a problem then |
| is considered as a potential problem.Interestingly most | | | | the chances are you do. |
| wine drinkers think there are 6 units of alcohol in a | | | | The stigma attached to the word alcoholic means |
| bottle of wine. Look at the label and you will notice | | | | most people will not relate to this term, even though |
| most are around 9 units per bottle. That's 1.5 units per | | | | their drinking patterns do. Alcoholics are generally |
| glass. | | | | regarded as slightly dishevelled, dirty and keep a bottle |
| Definitions of alcohol abuse, alcohol dependent and | | | | in the top draw at work. Where in fact most alcoholics |
| alcoholic do not often refer to quantities. It is more | | | | resemble nothing like this. Some will drink on their own |
| about the relationship a person has with alcohol. | | | | and never be seen drunk with others. Some are |
| Alcohol abusers can drink very little but when they do | | | | functioning alcoholics and can carry on with all the |
| they drink to excess, even though they may be aware | | | | normal duties of life. Other just drink too much on a |
| of the harm it is doing. Alcohol dependency, also does | | | | regular basis with the occasional binge session. |
| not necessarily link with quantity. It can relate to | | | | If you are not sure whether you have a drink problem, |
| needing a drink at particular moments in time. Unable to | | | | then stop drinking for a month and see how you go. |
| drink in a moderate manner can also relate to both | | | | For a person without a drink problem this would not |
| these terms. One definition of being an alcoholic, that | | | | phase them in the slightest. If just the thought of giving |
| seems to encapsulate it well is: Alcoholism is an illness | | | | up the bottle for that length of time scares you - then |
| or disorder characterised by some loss of control over | | | | may be its the time to try it! |
| drinking, with habituation or addiction to the drug alcohol, | | | | I know that my personal drinking was to excess and |
| causing interference in any major life function. EG | | | | have decided to stop for a year, at least. My blog |
| Health, family, job, spiritual, friends. legal etc. | | | | detailed below covers the journey on a day to day |
| From these definitions it is easy to ascertain whether | | | | basis and also has other interesting links. Any |
| someone has a drinking issue. Just examine the | | | | commissions earned from advertising click through on |
| drinking patterns of the past and whether it fits with | | | | the site are donated to alcohol related charities. |
| one of the above. If someone drinks daily and then on | | | | By the way - you do know if alcohol was invented |
| a regular basis drinks to excess and becomes drunk | | | | today, then it would not be allowed. |