are you an alcoholic?

[brewnman]

I am a brewaholic there for i must.... drink it.

 

[HBDrinker008]

I am not saying, just saying that over 60 posts would imply that a lot of people want to rationalize their drinking habits which may say something in itself.

I am no hypocrite so I will step off my soap box now and agree with an earlier post that I am comfortable with my amount of drinking alcoholic or not and that as long as it doesnt negatively affect your life, who cares, you only live once

 

[APendejo]

I drink, smoke cigars, like to go to casinos, ride motorcycles and do a whole bunch of other stuff some would consider dangerous or immoral. Life is too short for me to waste the time trying to decide what I am. I will leave that up to those self righteous idividuals who pride themselfs with their morality and abilities to judge others. Oh, and the medical profesionals who may have to deal with me some day.
AP

 

[Zul'jin]

Alcoholic? Not me. I stop while I can still pour it into my mouth, long before I have to lick it.
:cross:

 

[buckeyebrewer]

I usually drink 3 beers per hour until I puke. Then I only drink 1 per hour till I sleep. I kid...I kid

 

[mrkristofo]

In the state of UT I'm a sinful cretin that should be tarred, feathered, hanged, drawn, and quartered.

But no, I'm not an Alcoholic.

If you look at the DSM-IV (The go-to diagnosis book for psychological illness used by shrinks everywhere) it will tell you that alcoholism is a disease caused by the effects of alcohol abuse, that the abuser cannot fix due to their dependence.

Abuse is defined below:

A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:
1. recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)
2. recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)
recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., arrests for substance-related disorderly conduct)
3. continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights)

The symptoms have never met the criteria for Substance Dependence for this class of substances.

Dependence is further defined as:

A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
1. tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
• a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
• markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance
2. withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
• the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance
• the same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
3. the substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
4. there is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
5. a great deal of time is spent in activities to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects
6. important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use
7. the substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (e.g., continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)

uhhh...so don't let #5 throw you off. You need way more than just one of these to be classified as dependent on alcohol. Otherwise, we'd all be screwed.

At any rate, if you're reading through those and answering a lot of "yes, that sounds like me" to those then you should probably seek professional help. Or if you're really concerned or family members have conveyed concern, then seek professional help. My mom's a psychologist that specializes in addictions, so I grew up with this stuff all through my rebellious adolescence. There's been times in my life when I've had problems with substances, but fortunately I knew enough to get help when needed.

At this point, no, I'm not an alcoholic, and there's a lot of red flags that would flip up if I started getting close.

Drink up, me harties, yo ho.

 

[Nyxator]

I think the key with number 5 is that people have to spend a great deal of time obtaining the object of their dependence, as opposed to people that choose to spend a great deal of time obtaining it.

Good post either way. I hope it at least makes everyone examine their drinking habits. I drink 1 - 2 drinks every other day and maybe 5 - 6 on either Friday or Saturday night and that's about the extent of it. I also define alcoholism by whether or not your consumption affects your work or personal life.

 

[AFAJ Brew Guy]

By no means am I an alcoholic. I enjoy beer. I enjoy it enough that I wanted to try my hand at making the stuff. Turns out I think I will be quite good at it.

I on average have one beer a night, after I get home, after dinner, after play time with the kids, after they go to bed and the SWMBO and I are relaxing at the end of the day. On the weekends I may have one in the afternoon, and then one again at night.

Like other people have said, I don't think I have a drinking problem, I have a brewing problem.

 

[Bulls Beers]

I was a weekend drinker, for most of my drinking life..Since I started homebrewing, I seem to have one or two a night.. BUT since I starting kegging I find I'm drinking more..My feeling is that it's a novelity and having a two tap in my office a few feet away from where I work will soon be no big deal...

Back in the day( last year) when I was drinking BL, I could pound a 12-15 in a night no problem. Now if i'm in a good drinking mood of one of my beers or a good German beer I'm drinking 5 or 6..so it's better...Right??

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

I prefer not to drink on my days off. Unfortunately, SWMBO and I work at the same place, have the same days off, and she is the opposite way. Personally, I work second shift and my job has far too much stress and if I let myself go without a drink I would be awake until 7 or 8am every night. That would really suck when it comes to getting up at noon for work. So, instead, I pull a pint or two and I can be in bed by 4am. It's a relaxer for me.

On my days off though, I become very productive... I do work that is both physically and mentally draining. In short, I don't need a beer on my days off and will find myself tired and ready for bed at my normal time. No need to drink.

The problem here though... is SWMBO only likes to drink on our days off.

I chalk it up to our present situation and figure one of us or both of us will be getting a new job soon.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

I'm not an alcoholic. I'm an alcophile.

 

[Desert_Sky]

I was a weekend drinker, for most of my drinking life..Since I started homebrewing, I seem to have one or two a night.. BUT since I starting kegging I find I'm drinking more..My feeling is that it's a novelity and having a two tap in my office a few feet away from where I work will soon be no big deal...

Back in the day( last year) when I was drinking BL, I could pound a 12-15 in a night no problem. Now if i'm in a good drinking mood of one of my beers or a good German beer I'm drinking 5 or 6..so it's better...Right??

I totally can relate to that. Once I started kegging, my consumption doubled. I love nothing more than to come home from work and pour a few out of the keg. Life's a bitch, then you drink great beer everyday. Could be worse I guess......

 

[uglygoat]

are you an alcoholic?

i am kind of scared of getting deeper into this so called addicting hobby cause i might be drinking all the time...

convince me to stay otherwise...


are you an alcoholic

you know, if you have to ask....

the answer is: the liver is evil, it must be punished. :rockin:

I think the perception has a lot to do where you live and grew up. I'm noticing a lot of posts (not just in this thread) from people in the Bible Belt that those around them think they drink too much, or are even perceived as alcoholics. Those of us from farther north don't seem to have the same perception. Dunno why, it just seems that way to me.

it's cause it's frikkin cold up here!

 

[DeathBrewer]

it's cold in the bible belt, too. but everything is evil there.

 

[Sean]

It is healthy to keep asking yourself. And, ask yourself, am I thinking about the next drink when I still have a quarter of a drink left?

 

[Fish]

In college I thought I was but I drank a lot in college. It made me feel good.

Now I just can't drink enough to worry about it. 1-2 drinks 3-4 nights a week. I do worry that it has become a stress relief. Or the way I handle emotional situations. Hear bad news well better have a bottle of the best prescriptions I can make.

 

[uglygoat]

ask yourself, am I thinking about the next drink when I still have a quarter of a drink left?

yes, but that's just good planning.


i personally don't trust the local water supply, so i fortify my water with hops and barley.

 

[Sean]

yes, but that's just good planning.


i personally don't trust the local water supply, so i fortify my water with hops and barley.

True, true...

 

[DeathBrewer]

i was supposed to be working the last hour and i'm supposed to be voting right now.

i think i'm addicted to HBT. i need help.

 

[Fish]

Completely OT here but Uglygoat who is that on your avatar? I swear that looks like an old friend of mine Henry Muchmore.

http://www.samdevinetischler.com/portraits/hmuchmore.html

 

[brewhead]

frankly i don't really care. one has the perpensity to be adicted to something in this life. i choose beer. don't like it - fine - find your own forums. if i were told tomorrow that drinking another beer would kill me - i'd die with a smile on my face. everyone wants to go to heaven - nobody wants to die

 

[bensyverson]

This thread reminds me of this classic Onion article:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33296

In terms of my consumption, I agree with Unibroue -- "Drink less, drink better!"

 

[DeathBrewer]

i don't want to go to heaven. that place sounds lame. i'll bet they don't even drink beer there.

 

[slater]

I am not an alcoholic, I am however still a college student that just turned 21 2 weeks back. So I turned 21, I am sure you all have been there, that weekend needless to say I was sick. But I have realized in the past two years (I am a junior) I have been drinking less and less. Even though I spend more and more on alcohol so I can try out new things because I can actually buy it now and want to try different kinds of beer. Now that I am 21 and have my first brew fermenting I have to still try more beer( in my mind), but it will just be mine and better beer. With that, I do drink almost everyday, what's a beer or two going to do while you are sitting doing homework in your room? nothing. Unlike freshmen year when I would get yelled at for taking girls back to campus and then going back out and drinking more until I made myself get kicked out of parties to make sure they could not give me anymore.

Most people drink a lot, as in atleast 5 days a week. That doesn't mean you are an alcoholic, I might have been heading towards that point, but that weekend was the first time in 2 years that I got sick because of drinking, that's what I get for being a college student I guess, but I am done with that now and am glad I have picked up this hobby and am hoping it will be great.

 

[mrkristofo]

Anyone else have the alcohol rehab/alcoholism treatment banner at the bottom of the page?

 

[DeathBrewer]

mine says "null" guess not...

 

[chemist308]

Okay, I'll bite. There's a fine line between craving and wanting. If you get home from a hard day of work, and want a beer...well go ahead and have one.

But if you find yourself in a position where you don't have any beer in the fridge, you have something bottle conditioning for about 7 more days and you start thinking about how you'll get your next drink because you haven't had one yet today and even though you meant to take the next seven days off...there's your sign. It's all the difference between needing and wanting. If I want a bowl of chocolate ice cream and i'm happy being fat, it's not the same as if I'm on a diet, can't stop myself and feel ashamed right after I've had that bowl.

That said, I'm not an alcoholic because I don't need to drink Friday and Saturday when I'm not worrying about going into work the next day

 

[TheBrewPig]

When I was younger, I was an alcoholic. By my definition anyway..

2 rules for me in regards to alcoholism:

#1 You can't have a good time without drinking

#2 your life is disrupted by your consumption.

I didn't realise I had a problem until I got DUI #2 and went to jail for 30 days, then I though.. "Hmmmm, this alcohol is BULLSH!T!" and gave it up for a couple of years.

Now I drink every day, sometimes too much, sometimes not enough, but I do drink pretty much every day. But you know what? I is not causing me ANY grief and I know I could stop again for a couple of years if I wanted to.

I don't drink and drive
I don't drink enough to get abusive to my family
I don't drink enough to cause health concerns

I drink enough to enjoy myself and to make other people interesting.

By some foolish measures, I am an alcoholic, but when reality comes into play, I think I have a pretty good grap on it, rather than it on me.

Plus I live in Australia... you don't fit in unless you are a pisshead!

Right on, Neighbour!!

That said... you are more of an alco than me.

But if that's what you need to make me interesting... I can live with that cos you keep giving me your fantastic beer.

Just no cheese and tomato paste in mine, thanks....

 

[njnear76]

i don't want to go to heaven. that place sounds lame. i'll bet they don't even drink beer there.

Sad, but true. There's a polka called "In Heaven there is no Beer."

In heaven there is no beer
(no beer? !)
Thats why we drink it here
And when were all gone from here
Our friends will be drinking all the beer.

Yes, I got polish blood in me and, yes I know polkas. Yes, every family event revolves around beer and hard liquor.
​

 

[Neomich]

SWMBO is a doctor so I've got a good source to tell me if my drinking gets out of hand. There are times when I'm at home firing up the grill drinking some brews and they catch up with me later. She doesn't like that but at least I'm home being safe.

For me, it's about your intentions when drinking. If you're drinking with the intention of getting drunk, then maybe you should be asking yourself if you have a problem. If you're drinking for the enjoyment of the beer/drink and don't have that drunkeness as your goal, I don't think you can be called an alcoholic.