social drinker
Statistics show that 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 have alcohol use disorder. This means that about 10% of the population struggles with alcohol use.
If you are a social drinker, you may be worried about alcohol addiction. This is a common concern since the two are closely linked together.
Responsible drinking is a very important topic people need to talk about more. This guide will break down what a social drinker and alcoholic are and the risks.
Keep reading to find out if a social drinker could become an alcoholic.
What Is Social Drinking?
Heavy drinking is something that is unfortunately common in the US. In fact, drinking has a strong prevalence all over the world.
Social drinking is considered to be a kind of low-risk drinking. People drink socially when they are out with friends and family.
For instance, you may order a glass of wine when you eat out with your friends. Or you may drink some tequila when you go to the bar with a partner.
A social drinker usually has some rules in place around alcohol consumption. You may limit yourself to a certain amount of glasses before cutting yourself off.
Or you may have a point where you know you have had more than enough. This is responsible drinking since you know your limit, and you are able to stop.
With that said, social drinking is still not considered to be healthy. You can develop a high tolerance for alcohol, drinking more and more with each outing.
When Is Social Drinking a Problem?
Most people consider social drinking to be very mild. But there is a point where this can become problematic.
You may start to develop alcohol dependency without even realizing it. Some examples of this are when you start to use alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Instead of drinking for fun, you may be trying to deal with loss or anxiety. In these instances, you will usually start to drink outside of social gatherings.
Those with mental health conditions should also avoid social drinking. This can quickly spiral out of control and become alcoholism before they realize it.
People with a family history of alcoholism also should steer clear of social drinking. This family history could put you at a higher risk of abusing alcohol.
What Is an Alcoholic?
There are a lot of risks involved when you drink alcohol. The most common risk is becoming an alcoholic who abuses alcohol.
To be an alcoholic, you need a history of excess drinking. You usually have strong cravings for alcohol that you are unable to ignore.
Alcoholics usually have to drink so that they can function throughout the day. As they continue this habit, their body craves alcohol more and more.
Those with alcoholism continue to drink despite negative life repercussions. It becomes an addiction that has similar side effects to those of drug addictions.
Can an Alcoholic Be a Social Drinker?
If you drink alcohol, you may be concerned about it getting out of control. There are many instances where people have to cut off their drinking habits.
If you are an alcoholic, it is not possible to be a true social drinker. You may appear as though you’re a social drinker, but it is just part of the condition.
Some alcoholics are able to maintain a certain public image despite drinking. This is because you develop such a high tolerance for large amounts of alcohol.
Recovering alcohol addicts should never try to be social drinkers. Recovering from addiction means you have to cut yourself off from that temptation.
If you don’t do this, you are very likely to fall back into old habits. That is why people who are recovering alcoholics stay away from alcoholic beverages.
If you are struggling with alcohol, you should seek treatment at this drug rehab center.
Is Anyone at Risk of Alcoholism?
People often wonder if they are susceptible to different kinds of addictions. It is easy to judge others and think that only they would fall into that issue.
The reality is that just about anyone could become an addict. When it comes to alcohol, this is one of the easiest things to become addicted to.
Alcohol is widely accessible, and society acknowledges it as a common thing. Because of this, there isn’t much public shame around drinking alcohol, and most people around you are doing it.
Some people have a tendency toward developing addictions. If this is something you recognize in yourself, you should steer clear of alcohol.
Those with a history of alcoholism should also be very careful. This is not necessarily genetic, but those who grew up in this environment are more likely to over drink.
You should also be careful when you are in times of emotional distress. You may be going through a breakup or suffered the loss of a loved one.
In these situations, it may be best to avoid alcohol for the time being. You do not want to develop a habit of turning to alcohol to get through the day or your emotions.
Social Drinker: Can Social Drinking Turn Into Alcoholism?
Are you a social drinker? If so, you may be worried about developing alcoholism.
The reality is that social drinking could easily turn into alcoholism if you aren’t careful. You may start to crave alcohol more, or you are drinking for reasons other than fun.
Are you looking for more information about drinking? Check out the other drinking and lifestyle-related articles here on our blog.
