Your friend is throwing a party. There will be alcohol but it’s fine. You only drink in social situations and as long as you take things slow, you know you’ll be okay.
This is what we call casual drinking. You know your limit and are willing to stick to it. The line between this and alcoholism can be a little blurred, however.
If you start consuming alcohol when you’re at home by yourself and miss your obligations, you might have a problem. Often times it begins with social drinking and spirals out of control. Keep reading to learn where casual drinking ends and alcoholism begins.
What is a Casual Drinker
A casual drinker is someone who only consumes alcohol every now and again. They are also known as social drinkers. They’ll have it at a party with friends but they won’t drink enough to blackout.
It’s all about being with friends and letting go of stress with conversation and your favorite drinks. Casual drinkers don’t let a night of fun get in the way of their obligations. If they have to work the next day, they avoid drinking too much.
When Does it Become Alcoholism?
If you drink when you’re at home alone and don’t need the presence of friends to do so, you might have an issue. People with alcoholism can’t control how much they drink.
Unlike casual drinkers, they sometimes have blackouts and drink when they experience the slightest amount of stress. They may need the help of a treatment center in order to keep themselves sober.
How to Tell if You Have a Problem?
The line between casual drinking and alcoholism can be a bit blurred. Sometimes one can evolve into the other. Here are a few signs of a drinking problem.
High Tolerance
How long does it take you to start feeling the effects of alcohol? If your answer is an entire bottle of wine, you may have an issue. The more often someone drinks, the higher their tolerance gets.
If you don’t start getting tipsy until after a glass or two, you’re fine.
Secret Drinking
Do you try to sneak in drinks when nobody’s looking? Maybe try to go on an early lunch to lower your stress levels after dealing with an angry customer or client?
Casual drinkers know when it’s time to consume alcohol. Those who drink too much, don’t. They sometimes partake when it’s not appropriate to do so.
They may also try to hide their drinking from their family and friends and skip out on their obligations.
Where Casual Drinking Ends and Alcoholism Begins
There’s nothing wrong with having a few beverages with your friends at the end of a tough week. As long as your casual drinking doesn’t delve into alcoholism territory, you’re good to go.
The first step to stop that from happening is being able to notice the signs of alcoholism that we’ve been over. Have fun within reason.
Are you looking for more ways to take care of yourself? Check out the health section of our blog daily for even more tips.
