Well King, let's just say the drinking pattern you described sounds more like alcoholism than it does casual drinking or "normal" drinking.
Like Anna said though, there's a simple test. Set your will towards "not drinking" and do it - just don't drink. Plan out your days, watch out for what triggers you to drink, and don't pick up that first one. If you can do that......and your life gets better.... your life will get better (duh
) and you're probably not an alcoholic (although, you seem to be trying hard to be one - haha).
On the other hand.....if none of that ^^^^ works: you can't stay stopped, you can't avoid all the "triggers" all the time, you keep ending up drunk/drinking again, or when you CAN stay stopped life seems to feel worse ......then you're probably alcoholic - like I am.
Another "test" is to ask yourself if you experience "CRAVING." Most ppl misuse that word here. Craving is what happens when you START to drink....ie, you have one and then
crave more. No "normal" drinker experiences that feeling. The feeling of "wanting" a 1st drink is more accurately called a mental obsession.....you're thinking about it / obsessing about it. So, if you're obsessing over your next drink and once you start you crave more - you're probably an alcoholic.
As I said earlier though....if you haven't crossed that "invisible line" you should be able to look at the bad things that have come from your drinking, bring them into your consciousness before you pick up, use your will power and NOT pick up that first drink. On the other hand, if you HAVE crossed that invisible line into full-blown alcoholism (like I did) you'll find that no matter what you think, decide, set your willpower to, resolve to do, avoid (triggers), try to remember, etc......you keep on drinking. You may also find that even when you can "keep it together" and you don't get drunk...life seems to feel
worse. If that's the case...you're both screwed and you're in luck at the same time. You're screwed because you're an alcoholic and there is NO going back.....ever. - sorry, that's the way it is. You're in luck because there IS a solution and, if you're willing to do some work you CAN have a fabulous life back again.