There are many different types of drinkers. There are casual drinkers, binge drinkers, problem/heavy drinkers, and alcoholics.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to differentiate between the problem drinker and the real alcoholic. However, there are subtle differences between heavy drinking and alcoholism.
Problem drinking is associated with someone who drinks too much, too often, or during inappropriate situations. Alcoholism, on the other hand, is a complex disease characterized by compulsive drinking regardless of negative consequences.
Casual drinking is often known as social drinking. These drinkers may have a drink or two in social settings or on occasion. Casual drinkers typically have little to no difficulty controlling the amount they drink and how often they drink. Similarly, these individuals don’t blackout while drinking or engage in risky behaviors while under the influence of alcohol.
Characteristics of casual drinking include:
Drinking on a full stomach
Not having too much to drink in one sitting
Utilizing sober drivers
Only drinking in appropriate situations
The problem drinker or heavy drinker consumes alcohol quite frequently. These drinkers may easily lose control over the amount of alcohol they consume. In addition, they may suffer from blackouts or face consequences as a result of their drinking. However, if a reason is sufficient enough, such as a motive to stay sober or stop drinking, these individuals have little trouble doing so.
Although heavy drinkers have the willpower to stop drinking, they may spend a lot of time thinking about alcohol. As a result of frequent drinking, they may also suffer from short or long term adverse health effects of alcohol.
Characteristics of problem drinking may indicate a mild alcohol use disorder. These include:
Drinking often alone
Difficulty controlling the amount of alcohol consumed
Setting aside time to spend drinking on a regular basis
Turning to alcohol when bored, depressed, anxious, or stressed
Most alcoholic drinkers consume alcohol on a daily basis. However, there are two main concepts that separate the alcoholic from the problem drinker.
An alcoholic is unable to control the amount he or she drinks.
An alcoholic is unable to stay sober on willpower alone without professional help.
Alcoholism can begin to consume the mind of a person who drinks alcoholically. After all, chronic drinking can immensely affect a person’s way of life. Alcoholics will suffer from physical and mental cravings for alcohol, regardless of how much they have already consumed. He or she may:
Isolate from family and friends
Make multiple promises to stay sober but never follow through
Spend much time obsessing over drinking
Spend much of his or her money on alcohol
Fail to meet important obligations and responsibilities
Experience deterioration in personal relationships
Experience withdrawal symptoms when not drinking
Engage in risky or dangerous behaviors
Place alcohol as a top priority over all else
Over time, the symptoms of alcoholism are known to progress and become even stronger. Many alcoholics find treatment necessary to stop drinking.
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