Am I becoming an alcoholic?

[Shunpike]

I was a non drinker up until 2004. Started drinking a few beers every other week.

Now I am drinking around 12-14 beers weekly.

I don't drink everyday. I mostly drink on Friday's and Saturday's and on Sunday's during football season. I don't drink more than 5 beers at a time and my weekly consumption is always below 15 beers a week.

My wife thinks I am becoming an alcoholic.

What is your take on this issue?

 

[Tabascocat]

Social drinker, not an alcoholic at this point in time. If you can go a few days w/o a drink, I don't think you have a problem.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

My guess is no.

There is a son by Ozzy called Demon Alcohol that has a line that goes something like this...
You know that one is too much, but ten is not enough.

I bring this up because I doubt you would only drink on certain days and I doubt you would stop at five when you do if you were an alcoholic.

Sounds like a casual and maybe social drinker.

 

[Keifer]

I was a non drinker up until 2004. Started drinking a few beers every other week.

Now I am drinking around 12-14 beers weekly.

I don't drink everyday. I mostly drink on Friday's and Saturday's and on Sunday's during football season. I don't drink more than 5 beers at a time and my weekly consumption is always below 15 beers a week.

My wife thinks I am becoming an alcoholic.

What is your take on this issue?

5 at a time? Your a lightweight especially for a Giants fan.:laugh2:
Seriously though my take is that its only a problem if its causing problems and you do it anyway.

 

[Shunpike]

Thanks guys.

I am serious about this because I do have kids that are in the elementary school.

I am not really very knowledgeable about the topic. Like I said, I am drinking only beer. Even wine is to heavy for me. Hard liquor doesn't happen at all.

I barely drink back to back days except weekends. If I drink on a Sunday my next drink is on Friday at the earliest.

And my weekly consumption never goes above 15 beers. I mostly stay around 10 beers a week give or take.

My wife is worried because I am 35 and 15 years ago I wouldn't even drink beer. To her, this is a big change and it might effect my future. I appreciate your comments on the topic.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Thanks guys.

I am serious about this because I do have kids that are in the elementary school.

I am not really very knowledgeable about the topic. Like I said, I am drinking only beer. Even wine is to heavy for me. Hard liquor doesn't happen at all.

I barely drink back to back days except weekends. If I drink on a Sunday my next drink is on Friday at the earliest.

And my weekly consumption never goes above 15 beers. I mostly stay around 10 beers a week give or take.

My wife is worried because I am 35 and 15 years ago I wouldn't even drink beer. To her, this is a big change and it might effect my future. I appreciate your comments on the topic.

Some times it is just a way of self medicating and just help to sooth the nerves as you get a little older and the nerves get a little shorter when the responsibilities get bigger and things pile up.

From about this past July through January I started making me a nightly drink with Captain Morgan. Some because I enjoyed the taste nd also to settle my nerves some. Never drank enough to get drunk. I quit doing that nightly thin in January as I started a diet. I think I have only had maybe 4-5 times since. It is just extra calories I don't need. However I admit my nerves could use more:laugh2:

If your wife is really worried just ask her if she feels you are doing things that are bad like getting mad when you drink or dodging your normal chores or spending too much money or forgetting things and so on. If you are not doing those things maybe after she realizes it she will be less worried.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

As an alcoholic I know this: Only you can answer that question.

 

[Denim Chicken]

5 beers max and no liquor? I think you can hardly call yourself a drinker, certainly not an alcoholic. Suggest you tune in to "Intervention" for a proper
Definition

 

[RastaRocket]

Definitely not haha.

You are drinking beer and not even getting wasted.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I guess the question comes down to why you need to drink that many beers per week.

If it's because of some form of "escape" then you may want to ask yourself more questions.

On the flip side it's not doing your health a bit of good.

 

[theogt]

5 beers max and no liquor? I think you can hardly call yourself a drinker, certainly not an alcoholic. Suggest you tune in to "Intervention" for a proper
Definition

This. That's a very small amount of alcohol.

 

[Shunpike]

If your wife is really worried just ask her if she feels you are doing things that are bad like getting mad when you drink or dodging your normal chores or spending too much money or forgetting things and so on. If you are not doing those things maybe after she realizes it she will be less worried.

Thanks. Excellent comment. I will check this with her and also think about it. I think this is the key.

Also guys. It is not only the amount. Apparently I started drinking more after I was 30. What I am worried about is the trend. I figured it was time to stop and check myself. And you guys helped with your comments. Much appreciated

 

[theogt]

Thanks. Excellent comment. I will check this with her and also think about it. I think this is the key.

Also guys. It is not only the amount. Apparently I started drinking more after I was 30. What I am worried about is the trend. I figured it was time to stop and check myself. And you guys helped with your comments. Much appreciated

The amount certainly matters.

If you're drinking a small amount of alcohol and also being a jerk to your wife or being lazy with chores around the house, you're not an alcoholic, you're just lazy or a jerk.

 

[Muhast]

I don't think so. Beer is not that strong alcohol content wise. Less than 5 a day, and less than 15 a week(2.14 a day) isn't excessive at all.. I don't see any harm in staying home and drinking 2-3 beers while eating dinner/grilling/watching a baseball game etc.

However, you don't have to lay in bed with me, so I'd try to find a compromise with the wife you can both live with. I don't think it is neccesarily putting a limit on what you can drink in a week, but surely there is some number she will consider reasonable that you can both agree to.

 

[rynochop]

5 beers max and no liquor? I think you can hardly call yourself a drinker, certainly not an alcoholic. Suggest you tune in to "Intervention" for a proper
Definition

Well, it sounds like his wife needs to tune in. Sounds like a friend of mines wife, he.ll grill and she will buy one six pack from the store and make comments when its gone.Lol, really?
But yeah, you're definitely not an alcoholic, not even close. If you start craving a beer at 7 in the morning, then worry.

 

[jobberone]

More than two drinks a day can be a medical concern. You do not have to be a daily drinker to be an alcoholic. If you are drinking enough for it to cause problems in your life and if you have consequences from drinking then you need to self inventory. Causing marital strife is a serious consequence. Lastly you may consider asking yourself why do you need to drink. Dismissing it because its only beer is not acceptable. It is alcohol and mind altering. If your wife thinks you are becoming an alcoholic you must address the issue. If you are self medicating you must. If you are questioning yourself you must. If you are asking others this question you must address it as well. If you are making excuses as to why you are drinking you should address it.

A simple way to test yourself is to stop drinking. If that causes you some concern then you may have a problem. You don't need to wait until you have serious consequences before addressing any problem. Getting a buzz on occasionally is a choice. Needing to get a buzz on several times a week persistently raises questions.

 

[Shunpike]

More than two drinks a day can be a medical concern. You do not have to be a daily drinker to be an alcoholic. If you are drinking enough for it to cause problems in your life and if you have consequences from drinking then you need to self inventory. Causing marital strife is a serious consequence. Lastly you may consider asking yourself why do you need to drink. Dismissing it because its only beer is not acceptable. It is alcohol and mind altering. If your wife thinks you are becoming an alcoholic you must address the issue. If you are self medicating you must. If you are questioning yourself you must. If you are asking others this question you must address it as well. If you are making excuses as to why you are drinking you should address it.

A simple way to test yourself is to stop drinking. If that causes you some concern then you may have a problem. You don't need to wait until you have serious consequences before addressing any problem. Getting a buzz on occasionally is a choice. Needing to get a buzz on several times a week persistently raises questions.

Thanks. Another comment that I will think about and benefit.

Appreciate it.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Do what I did and get your wife hooked on the juice too. Problem solved.

 

[Eskimo]

Medically you do have to watch out at 14 drinks/week for a man and 9/week for a woman of average size.

Addictions can be a serious issue and if you are being truthful here it doesn't sound like you are presently addicted. One way to check out how much of an urge it is for you under your present conditions would be to avoid it for a month and see how you feel.

I wouldn't dismiss your wife's concerns altogether. She may be concerned about you drinking a fair amount every weekend. In general, having two drinks per day is much less harmful than have five drinks two to three times/week.

 

[CATCH17]

No.

But if there is a beginners path to acoholism you're probably on it.


Just stop drinking for a few weeks and just have a few on your days off.