The moderate drinker

[nandm]

Moderate drinkers have little trouble in giving up liquor entirely if they have good reason for it. They can take it or leave it alone. (from the chapter "There Is A Solution" in the Big Book

Am I a moderate drinker? Can I take it or leave it alone? We can diagnose our problem by asking ourselves the questions in the Big Book.

[nandm]

I don't know when I crossed the line from moderate drinker to alcoholic. By the age of 21 I think that I had crossed that line though. By that age I could not take it or leave it alone. If alcohol was around I was going to drink it. I had already started centering my life around activities where I could drink. I wanted to try every drink in the bar and many times attempted to go down the drink menu drink after drink to see how many I could drink in an evening. I had found Long Island Iced Teas........my dream drink......could be sitting there and drink as many as I wanted to but as soon as I stood up I found that the buzz I was seeking was present. Sometimes too present... Needless to say I did cross the line very early in my drinking career. I started at the age of 15 and was an alcoholic by the age of 21 (even got my first DUI at that age with a .22 and .23 BAC) and continued to drink until I was 35. I am fortunate to be alive and am truly grateful to the program and people of AA as well as my HP for seeing me through. Thanks to each of you who help me stay sober today. You are appreciated.