Soberintexas007

So, I was talking to my husband's aunt about alcoholism the other night. She asked me if someone could be an alcoholic if they just drank two drinks but did not like how the alcohol affected them or made them act.

I responded that most alcoholics I know cannot stop after having just one drink or two drinks. We obsess about alcohol after that first drink and continue to drink a lot. I told her that someone who is able to keep to just two drinks does not seem like an alcoholic to me, even though that person may not like how they act and behave after those two drinks.

What do you think?

DoubleBarrel

Sounds completely normal. I mean, alcoholics may act completely insane, but it certainly never made me want to stop.

Sounds like a person who doesn't like the un inhibiting feeling of alcohol.
Alcoholics generally continue despite consequences.

newhope01

I think if they continue to consume alcohol despite not enjoying the way it makes them feel is a red flag for me.

Soberwolf

If there is a pattern then theres alcoholism

2 drinks every single day

if it was 2 hits on a crackpipe every single day ....what would you think then ? addict ? normie ?

Soberintexas007

But I think 2 alcoholic drinks each day is a lot different than 2 hits of crack each day.

Verte

I'm just dying to know the reason why this person would drink 2 alcoholic drinks per day if they "did not like how the alcohol affected them or made them act?" Is it a social thing or a habit? Any clues?

MelindaFlowers

This is just my opinion but I would not consider someone who drinks within the recommended medical guidelines an alcoholic. They don't blackout, they don't binge, two drinks couldn't make your life unmanageable, I just don't see it. She sounds kind of like the people (non-alcoholics) they described in. Under the Influence: two drinks they start to feel uncomfortable and stop. Alcoholics keep going for more.

Hawks

I don't know how you kept a straight face to be honest.

If only actual alcoholics were so easily convinced they may have a harmful drink pattern.

Some of the people I've dealt with are having 20 drinks in a session.

Apparently they aren't sure about having a harmful drink pattern.

*shrug*

anattaboy

Yes this person has a problem. It may not be the same as ours but yes.

Soberwolf

What is a lot diffrent ?

barefootjunker

Yes they can be an alcoholic, alcoholism is more then alcohol. I truly believe that some of us are born this way. Alcohol just winds up being the trigger that opens the door.

Hawkeye13

If you drink to avoid feeling or dealing with a problem every day you have
another kind of problem.

If you can truly have two drinks just to relax, that may be something else.

The person who cannot go without the two drinks is likely using the alcohol as an
avoidance tactic emotionally--so perhaps they just do that for life, or perhaps the
drinking slowly increases.

Doesn't sound like a good choice for living a fully-realized life, does it?

Hawkeye13

Maybe the Aunt comes from a family where alcohol is used
in this way?

Maybe your alcoholic husband used the same strategy but
turned out he didn't have an off switch?

I know my family did--my brother doesn't have an alcohol problem
but I do. He uses pot and food instead, so problem still is there but
manifests differently.

It does run in the family line--both genetic and learned behavior.

LBrain

I don't think Tiger Woods was the world's best golfer when he first started swing clubs...

biminiblue

This is hilarious. Like being good at drinking is something to strive toward?

I was very good at it. It was the quitting that had me baffled.

Fly N Buy

Just - why do you think they simply don't drink then? If there is no physical effect of craving, I wonder what would make them continue to drink?

The answer to this may reveal more about your question. Years back I recall talking to my Dad about a friend of his. He said the guy drank one martini everyday for many years and quit. We he quit he got the shakes.

It's the ism part that for most of us needs the work. The why did/do people drink who may be alcoholic.

Good question
Don't have the answer - I suppose It Depends is a fair response.
Most importantly - how are you doing today??

FlyN

zjw

for what its worth maybe there not an alcoholic per say but dependancies can still form from what i can gather. I read a story once of a lady who was just going for 4pm martinis each day just a couple that was that. When she decided to stop she got DT's etc...

So even just a small amount dependancies can form. Its like this with caffine or even cigarettes. I know people that have just one cup of coffee god help them if they miss it tho. Or just a couple cigarettes after dinner but they cant seem to cut just those 2 out etc...

Hawk07

That's a difficult one to call mainly because why would they continue to have two drinks despite not liking the effects of alcohol. Then again, being an alcoholic myself and coming from a family with multiple alcoholics I believe the majority of alcoholics enjoy the feeling of alcohol to the point of thinking its a euphoric experience from the beginning. Hence part of the reason we get hooked. Alcoholism is progressive as you all know. If said person notices an increase in tolerance, two drinks turns to four then 6 then maybe a whole bottle then yes definately. Also if said person loses control of when and how much drink they consume then absolutely.

Tamerua

I think if it makes them act differently, and in this case, a way that is not positive, then yes, that could be a major red flag. Not everyone is an obvious alcoholic from the first drink.

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fini

COULD someone be an alcoholic who drinks two drinks and doesn't like the way they feel?
if they go back to having those two drinks in spite of not liking the consequence...sounds like one marker.
if they "need" those two drinks, have trouble NOT having them....