Social Drinking -vs- An Alcoholic

Merika · 02-05-2005, 10:05 AM

There are several posts on the board now discussing drinking.

What do you think makes the difference between what you would consider a social drinker -vs- an alcoholic.

I make lots of beer jokes and have HEARD about it more than once (lol!). Truth is....I really don't drink that often compared to the standard of the people I worked with or knew to party often. However, when I do drink (2-3 times per month)....I ENJOY my beer time either online or with friends.

When we judge how much a person drinks....what yardstick are we using? Do we judge from our own drinking pattern or understand that each person has a different lifestyle?

Star · 02-05-2005, 11:35 AM

I don't consider drinking 2 to 3 times a month anywhere near being an alcoholic.

There are different types of alcoholics. My father was a social alcoholic. He wouldn't sit at home alone drinking, ever. He'd have to be drinking with buddies either at home or outside the home. Most of the time it was in one of those low life hick bars where the town alcoholics hang out. He wouldn't come home until the next morning most times.

My mother was the same type as my dad. social.

Social drinking and being a social alcoholic are 2 different things. You know you're an alcoholic when you don't know when to stop drinking. You just don't have any limits. Social drinking might happen, with a non-alcoholic, only 2 to 3 times a week with friends. While a social alcoholic will do this every single day of the week.

same goes with stay at home drinkers. Nothing wrong with a person having a drink after work to wind down from the hectic day they've had. It becomes a drinking problem when that 1 or 2 drinks turn into several to the point that the person is drunk on a daily basis.

An alcoholic, no matter the type, usually drinks every day of the week and never knows how to say no to that last drink. The alcohol becomes the most important thing in their lives above all that used to be precious to them.

Duke · 02-06-2005, 12:30 PM

A social drinker is a person who drinks in social situations. A social situation to me is not being on the internet, watching a ball game at home alone or having your family around. Social to me means you either go out or have company come over. You can also have a drink or two everyday and not be considered an alcoholic.

An alcoholic to me is a person who needs to drink to "take the edge off" or a person who has more than a few drinks in order to feel good. I also believe you can drink more sporatically and be an alcoholic if you drink excessively and don't know your limits.

Merika · 02-07-2005, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

A social situation to me is not being on the internet

I don't see where this is a difference. Example: Meanon and I are the best of friends. Meeting in a bar, which would be our preference, isn't do-able for obvious reasons. SO....we pick a night every couple of weeks to meet online, PM and share a few drinks. Sometimes other joint friends we have....join us.

It's the same to me as going out....but I'm not taking the chance of driving while under the influence....which I simply refuse to do.

I will usually pick a night when one or more of the kids are staying at friend's house....or they have friends staying here and are in their rooms doing their own thing.

Duke · 02-07-2005, 07:10 PM

Do you drink nightly on the internet, that's more what I mean? If you hoist a few now and then I think it's fine. If you drink every day because your on the internet and you believe it's a social function then I think you may have a problem. Of course I'm no expert.

darkangelism · 02-07-2005, 09:13 PM

If you get drunk on the internet that is a bit worse then just drinking when on the internet.

Merika · 02-07-2005, 10:30 PM

I'm not sure what anyone else's version of drunk would be. I've not yet woke up with my forehead smashed down on the keyboard or anything. LOL!

darkangelism · 02-07-2005, 10:38 PM

if you pass out that is way past drunk.

Duke · 02-07-2005, 10:47 PM

I have a buddy or two who gets drunk and wakes up with the WASD keys stamped to the side of his face.

Merika · 02-08-2005, 10:00 AM

The worst I've ever done is fall asleep in the middle of a phone call. I woke up the next morning with the phone laying next to me thinking....OMG!~!!

Duke · 02-08-2005, 10:45 PM

Hopefully it wasn't one of those 976 numbers ;-)

Merika · 02-09-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

Hopefully it wasn't one of those 976 numbers ;-)

Nahhh....it was a FREEBIE! HAHA!