Is it an amount per/time or a state if mind? Ability to function or not one drop?
We use the CAGE questions in the UK as a quick screening tool.
Have you ever felt the need to Cut down on your alcohol intake? Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt Guilty about drinking? Have you ever needed an Eye opener (drink first thing in the morning)?
Yes to two or more indicates problem drinking and probably alcoholism.
Other factors are drinking every day, drinking more than a few units in one go regularly, drinking to black out drunk, causing damage to yourself or others.
There’s two types:
-
Mental addiction
-
Physical addiction
For #2 it’s pretty clear cut: they get the shakes between 12-48 hrs without drinking
For #1 there’s a lot of grey area, but basically someone who becomes agitated when they can’t drink on their normal schedule or won’t do certain activities if they can’t also drink.
There are people who won’t socialize at all unless it involves alcohol
-
I used to work in restaurants and I often overheard a co-worker proclaim “I gotta get drunk tonight”. This was always on their last work day of the week. If someone turns to booze as a stress coping mechanism, I consider them an alcoholic.
Another co-worker, on a gas-drilling rig, and I were having a discussion about common causes of death. At one point I claimed that alcohol is responsible for more death than xyz (many years ago, I don’t remember the details). He got offended because I said something mean about booze. Taking that and the fact his first stop when he got back on dry land was the liquor store, I’m pretty sure he was an alcoholic.
I define it solely on physical dependence. So it’s whether someone can and does go two days or more in a row without alcohol. If you can’t/won’t do that, then that’s the tell.
Anyone who drinks more than me, everyone who drinks less than me is a lightweight though!
There is criteria for evaluating addiction. No need to speculate.
I’m a mild one, absurdly high functioning. Used to drink probably a handle on the weekend pretty consistently and with lots of effort have cut it to a 6 pack or so. But I think about it a lot. Never caused any issues but it’ll eventually kill me 🤷♂️. Fun stuff.
When they get withdrawals, even if mild. Some people get a bit cranky if they don’t get their daily fix (and yes, it has to be a daily habit). That’s evidence for me of an unhealthy dependence.
Of course, if they always have alcohol available it’s going to be difficult to see the withdrawal and it’s also difficult to draw the line because not all people tolerate it in the same way.
When drinking becomes habitual.
