Content Health Encyclopedia University of Rochester Medical Center

If problem drinking was an issue in your home as you were growing up, you are what is social drinking at greater risk of developing a problem with alcohol. If you have a parent or family member with an alcohol problem, you should monitor your drinking carefully. Choosing to drink multiple times a week can lead to an increased tolerance and the desire to drink more. Following rules for drinking socially can help you avoid drinking too much and may help you avoid alcohol problems in the future.

Services and Treatments

Problem drinking alcohol rehab can also damage your emotional stability, finances, career, and your ability to build and sustain satisfying relationships. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can also have an impact on your family, friends and the people you work with. Although most social drinkers don’t become alcoholics, there are risks involved. Alcoholism occurs over a period of time and involves many factors.

Is social drinking bad for your health?

Often, family members and close friends feel obligated to cover for the person with the drinking problem. So they take on the burden of cleaning up your messes, lying for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an enormous toll.

How to Recognize if Your Wife May Be Struggling with Alcoholism

If you’re asking what is social drinking and wondering if your drinking habits have become an issue, it’s important to reach out for help. The earlier you address and tackle an addiction to alcohol, the better. There are different types of alcohol addiction treatment programs available today, including medication-assisted treatment. Depending on the severity of your alcohol use, you may need a medical detox to begin the journey to recovery.

Each of these recovery programs has members who are HFAs as well as lower functioning alcoholics. Meetings are held in person as well as online and are typically listed on their websites. It is most important for alcoholics to realize that they are not alone and that millions of sober alcoholics now have fulfilling lives without drinking.

Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

Alcoholism is considered the state you reach when you can no longer control your alcohol intake. An alcoholic will experience intense cravings and will continue to drink despite the negative consequences. Occasional, casual, or moderate drinking is defined as 14 or fewer drinks a week for men, and 7 or fewer drinks per week for women. Social drinkers are those individuals who drink in low-risk patterns. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), "low-risk" drinking for females consists of no more than 7 drinks per week and no more than 3 drinks per sitting. For males, it consists of no more than 14 drinks per week and no more than 4 drinks per day.

• Another component of care consists of holistic treatments.
• Unlike alcoholics, alcohol abusers have some ability to set limits on their drinking.
• If the only person who knows that you’re quitting is you, it’s much easier to slip up and make excuses and rationalizations to yourself than it is to try and explain it to others.
• Increased drinking has more damaging effects on the body.
• A moderate drinker might pair a glass of wine with a meal, while a regular drinker uses alcohol to feel good in general.
• Assessing the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption remains an active area of research that may lead to major changes in official guidelines or warning labels.

Denial is one of the biggest obstacles to getting help for alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The desire to drink is so strong that the mind finds many ways to rationalize drinking, even when the consequences are obvious. By keeping you from looking honestly at your behavior and its negative effects, denial also exacerbates alcohol-related problems with work, finances, and relationships.

• It’s true that the decision to quit drinking is up to you.
• If you’re having trouble stopping or controlling your alcohol use despite any negative consequences from drinking, you may have a problem with alcohol.
• These are signs of tolerance, which can be an early warning sign of alcoholism.
• Binge drinkers aren’t always physically dependent on alcohol, but their pattern of drinking can be just as dangerous.

Find your path to recovery with our specialists by your side. As you begin to pursue sobriety, try not to dwell on the poor choices and guilt of your past decisions. Instead, work on waking up each day with a positive outlook, knowing that the past does not define you and you are taking the right steps toward a life of sobriety. Remember all the reasons you’ve listed for quitting, and celebrate each hour and day that you make it without a sip of alcohol. Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives.