What defines an alcoholic?

[Taz70]

Is it the amount you drink or how often you drink? I think my husband drinks way too much for his health (and his pocket). Whenever I mention it, apparently I'm nagging, and he just won't accept that he's beginning to have a problem. Or does anyone think I'm over-reacting? He drinks most evenings, sometimes only 3 or 4 cans of beer, but on weekends he goes mad, drinking beer, cider, WKD or anything else that's going. How much is too much?

[ummmm1]

An alcoholic is someone who HAS to have a drink, not someone who WANTS to have a drink. It doesn't matter how much alcohol is consumed it is a matter of need.

[PinkFizz]

Interesting question. I know I probably drink waaaay too much more than I should - but the difference is that I do out of choice and not because I need it. I could quite easily not drink for a week,I don't wake up needing a drink and its purely a choice to have a drink in the evenings,not a necessity. Ummmm is spot on I think - it's not the quantity,but the dependency on it. I was told once that you could have just one glass of wine a day,but if you absolutely could not get throught the day without this one glass then you were an alcoholic.

[Taz70]

It would be interesting to know how much you can drink without damaging your liver. Perhaps I'll browse google and see if I can find out.

[PinkFizz]

I think every person is different.It must depend on weight,sex,etc and like all illnesses,some people are more susceptile to the after effects than others.Just like drugs.

[raysparx1]

He may not have a problem at the moment, but he may well have if he carries on drinking that amount, this is exactly how my dad was,in the end he started hiding bottles around the house, you say he drinks most nights, do you really mean every night ? if it is gradually getting more and more then it is a worry,but no matter how much you talk (nag) as he puts it will stop him, he has to do that himself,hope he does ease off the stuff, is he under stress at the moment or worried about anything ? if he is it may be a temporary thing, good luck, Ray

[curly-milf]

alcohol generally becomes a problem, when its starts to affect your life, and your daily routine and behaviour is controlled by the need for a drink,

[Taz70]

The last couple of years it's been getting worse. Although he did use to drink pure Vodka, so at least he's cut down and is now drinking WKD, so some of the nagging must have sank in a bit.

I'm quite a stressy person anyway, but he tends not to show his feelings so maybe he's bottling things up (excuse the pun) and that's how he de-stresses I suppose. In the last couple of years he's started seeing certain mates that he didn't use to see that much of. I'm sure that they are an influence because I know for a fact that they drink even more than my husband.

Thanks for replying everyone

[jedimistress]

If his drinking affects or upsets you and he refuses to do anything about it, I'd say he may have a problem. You have a right to question him as you are his wife and care for him and your future. www.gettingthemsober.com is an informative website and also offers help. There are many other sites out there relating to alcoholism, good luck.

[Taz70]

Thanks for that jedi - i'll check it out. Maybe I could leave it on the screen when he's around. Who knows, he may even glance at it and know that I'm serious.

[wizard69]

Taz70, this may be of help
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
good luck

[Taz70]

Thanks for that wizard. I'll check that one too.