What Is The Difference Between An Alcoholic and a Heavy Drinker?
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What's the difference between an alcoholic and a heavy drinker? I have a friend who is an alcoholism counselor here in the good ole USA, who says that if you have to ask the question, you are probably in trouble.Is this a question that has been lurking at the back of your mind lately? If so, here are some facts that might interest you.
Most people don't think about such things. In fact a stunning 46% of the American population drinks zero, zip, nada, or at most has a glass of champagne at a wedding or a spiked eggnog at the annual office Christmas party just to be polite. Of those who do drink, the majority drink moderately or occasionally. The dirty little secret of the American liquor industry is that 10% of the drinkers account for 50% of alcohol sales, and those are the folks who drink early and often and never in moderation.
Now, we Americans are a pretty puritanical lot, but the point is that most people do not abuse alcohol and therefore never give any thought to whether or not they are drinking too much. They simply know they are not.It's just a small percentage that has anything to worry about and an even smaller percentage that ends up dead or in rehab.
The High School and College Crowd
The statistics are a bit different for the high school and college crowd. Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 drink more than anybody else and are big binge drinkers( a binge being defined as downing more than five drinks in one sitting) This is the time of life for beer bongs and Saturday night keggers, but most people calm down once they are out in the real workaday world and jobs, marriage and children tend to sober them up. Only a few keep on partying into their thirties and beyond-- and at some point, these few start to worry that maybe their drinking is getting out of hand and maybe, just maybe, it is.
A Test for Alcoholism
So what is the difference between a heavy drinker and an
alcoholic? The answer seems to lie in the dynamics of addiction. It's a long way from getting soused every Saturday night to skid row, but it is a clear path and a downward spiral and as we all know, alcoholism is a progressive illness. Once you are addicted, there is no place to go but down. Addiction, both physical and psychological, is about loss of control. If, in your secret heart of hearts you have ever feared that your drinking might be getting ahead of you , here are a couple of things you might want to ask yourself.
- Have you ever sworn you would not drink and then ended up with a drink in your hand?
- Have you ever sat down to have just one beer and ended up drunk?
- Has anyone--either at work or a family member, ever commented negatively on your drinking?
- Do you assume that everybody drinks and that most people get drunk and that people who don't are no fun to be around?
- Do you ever try to hide how much you drink( as in do you ever take those trash cans full of empty's to the dump rather than leave them for the regular collection or do you ever buy your booze at more than one liquor store so that the owners won't think you drink too much?)
- Do you drink: every day, alone, or in the morning?
- Does the idea of having to live without alcohol seem scary?
- Do you physically crave a drink at a certain time of day and get irritable if you can't have one?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could well be in trouble. Just for the record, moderate drinking is officially defined as: 2 drinks a night for a man, one for a woman and binge drinking is defined as more than five drinks at one sitting. If you spill more than that on Saturday night, or have a family member who does, have a look at the video above and the links at the bottom of this article for a quick overview of the basics on alcoholism.
Think you can quit anytime you want but just like to drink to unwind ? You can prove it to yourself and to the world by taking a little test. I urge you to try the following experiment if you are concerned about your drinking. It is a surefire way to separate the folks who just like to party, from those who are truly abusing alcohol and are on their way to serious abuse and physical addiction. If you have the guts to take on this experiment honestly and with an open mind, you might find out something very interesting about yourself. Wouldn't it be nice to know one way or the other so you could stop worrying?
Personal Stories and More
 | A writer's personal journey. Filled with insight Amazon Price: $2.54 List Price: $14.99 |
 | Documentary exploring the dynamics of addiction as a brain disease in DVD format--excellent overview Amazon Price: $18.97 List Price: $24.98 |
 | the story of Bill W., one of AA's founders Amazon Price: $10.91 List Price: $19.98 |
The Alcoholism Experiment
For the next week have no alcohol except for one five ounce glass of wine with dinner. If you don't like wine with your dinner, you can have one 12 oz bottle of beer instead. If you prefer spirits to wine or beer, you can substitute a one and one half ounce shot of whiskey before dinner for the wine or beer but.... you can choose only one of these three options, and once you've chosen you must stick with your choice. You can't change around and have beer one night, wine the next etc. Also, you cannot skip a night or have nothing one night and two beers the next etc. Just FYI a five oz. glass of wine, a 12 oz glass of beer and a 1 and 1/2 ounce shot of whiskey all have the same amount of alcohol so whatever you choose, you will be getting the same amount of alcohol, it's just a question of what appeals to you. Follow these directions exactly-- only one drink of whatever you choose for one entire week.
And that folks, is the way you can tell a heavy drinker from an alcoholic. It's a useful test that separates the sheep from the goats very handily. Those who are in even the early stages of addiction will not be able to pass the test. Those who really can take it or leave it will have no problem. What do you think. Want to give it a try, or does the very idea put a meat hook in your tum tum?
Cheers and here's mud in your eye.:-)
Links to Alcoholism Resources
- Alcoholism Recovery - LoveToKnow Recovery
How recovery from alcoholism begins and what it is like from the alcoholic's perspective - Alcohol Research and Statistics
Reference materials and data tables on the effects alcohol, alcoholism, drunk driving, health issues and more. - Alcoholism Stages
The three stages of alcoholism are Early Stage, Middle and End Stage. Information about all three stages of alcoholism, how this disease progresses, and treatment ooptions. - Is AA For You
A simple description of the classic 12 step program of recovery from Alcoholism - Alcohol Addiction Treatment and Self-Help: How to Stop Drinking and Start Recovery
Are you ready to start on the road to alcohol recovery? Learn how to overcome addiction and stop drinking for good with this step-by-step guide.
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A medical doctor can tell you if you have cancer, a broken bone, heart disease, even mental illnesses. But the only one who can "diagnose" you as a real alcoholic is -- you. - Are you Alcoholic? -- Genetic Testing for Alcoholism: One of a Set of Screening Tools
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Learn more about the free drug treatment and detoxification program offered at Thamkrabok Monastery in Thailand. People from all over the world travel to this temple in Thailand to beat drug and alcohol addictions. - Early Sobriety: What to Say When You're Not Drinking
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VS-- lovely to see you too. I'm too late to enter this hub in the contest but decided to write it anyway. I too had a father who died of alcoholism-- and who in his later years regularly ended up in the hospital tied down to a bed having DT's. He was a wonderful man who was devoured and destroyed by his addiction. It is all so sad and so hidden.I think people, particularly people in the early stages of alcohol abuse, need more information and more realism about what is going to happen to them if they don't stop.
Great info. Nice topic choice. I really like the tests. I hadn't heard it before. Thumbs up. =D
Hi Frieda and thanks for the thumb-- yup that one drink for a week was a test devised many years ago by the National Council on Alcoholism-- very clever I think.
I know quite a few who would deny they are alcoholics. I lived with one until I left home, then watch my relatives deny they have the same problem. Denial is a powerful state of mind.
Very straightforward and informative, thank you! I would pass on the test though! I know I would flunk it. Denial is such a big part of the disease. Denial is actually a really fascinating subject. We tend to cast it as a moral issue, but really, on another level it's amazing. Imagine walking around an elephant in your own living room every day. How does such a thing happen? But it happens all the time.
Thanks Roberta. Well done!
I happen to be in the 48% who don't drink at all except for a margarita or two every 18 months or so. It wasn't always that way, tho. Sadly, I kept Johnny Walker in business for most of my twenties. My life was screwed up, so one day I quit drinking. Cold turkey. My life didn't turn into a bed of roses overnight, but at least I wasn't using each crisis as an excuse to get blotto. Don't miss alcohol at all now.
However, I happen to have the physical makeup that precludes addiction to alcohol and drugs. I know others aren't so lucky and that quitting is a long, hard battle. But it can be done if one takes the first step and admits he/she is an alcoholic.
I only wish colleges and universities would take a more active role in making alcohol less "glamorous" and the preferred beverage at, or while watching, sports events.
Bottom line: **alcohol kills brain cells** that DON'T regenerate - ever. It saddens me that so many young people waste some of the most productive years of their lives in a drunken stupor in the mistaken belief that being in such a state is "cool". It is NOT.
Glad I never had to experience alcoholics in my family or people I knew. It was always a social drink here & there.
Hellow Jewels, Pam,and Jama-- yup denial is certainly complicated-- some say it is the shock absorber of the soul-- it certainly can be a positive as well as a negative thing in a crisis. But where addiction is concerned it is definitely a liability-- keeping the addict from help. It's always been true that the last person to know about his problem is the Alcoholic and " I can quit anytime I want to" is an old joke.
Thanks for sharing your personal experiences--very interesting....
And ocbill-- I'm glad for you-- alcoholism tends to run in families and it is really hard on the kids:-)
Really good hub. I have never seen this test either. I don't drink, but there have been times when I was worried about my sister. I would send her the questions, but don't want to start an argument.
Hi Alek and thanks for the comment. I'm glad you liked the hub. There is so much mis information around I just wanted to set the record straight-- problem is people who really could benefit from the information are the last ones to make use of it. Denial is powerful.
I know all sorts of people with various addictions, and this hub really nails it with respect to alcohol. Great information and food for thought. Hopefully someone with a problem or who knows someone who has a problem will get some help!
Thanks for dropping by and commenting and for reminding me that all addictions have certain characteristics in common.
Outstanding written hub with great information.
Thanks, Just About It. Your approval makes me feel especially good since I know you specialize in witing about health and related subjects so thanks for reading and commenting. I'll be watching your hubs too as I just became your newest follower:-)
Great article being that I an am alcoholic myself and that last paragraph can really tell you if you are Drunk like me, I wish more people could get honest with them selfs and just stop for the rest of there lives, In AA and the support program there is the olny way I have found to stay dry and folks like youo that are here to help, Thank you
Thanks Mockazoom, for sharing your personal experience. I too wish more people could stop sooner, but, of course, denial is a big part of alcoholism and in fact the majority of alcoholics die from complications of the disease-- so you are one of the lucky ones, I guess.
Thank you for taking the time to write about this. I found you to be thorough and direct and factual. The vid was a great choice, too! I look forward to reading more f your hubs! Thanks again! ;-)
And thank you mwatkins for taking the time to read and comment.... much appreciated and I'm looking forward to your hubs too:-)
A drunk are a good bet for someone who owns a restaurant-- it is very sad and when you are serving people you figure out very quickly the difference between an alcoholic and a heavy drinker. Good hub. Good information and the test is really an honest one.
Thanks Solarshingles--you make a good point. I was surprised to find that such a small percentage of American drinkers accounted for such a large percentage of alcohol sales. I suppose it is the same all over the world. Thanks for stopping by.
This is a really important issue and wow did you cover it well. The list at the end of howto to tell if you are having a problem as well as the resources was great to have as a reference for many people.
I myself only drink alcohol occasionally and even then it is only one beer but remember all the alcohol problems that I had when I was yonger makes me realize that this is a great place to point many people to
thanks billnad for taking the time to read and comment. I too hope this is helpful to those who are wondering about their drinking--it can be hard to tell, especially in the early stages of Alcoholism, whether one is out of control or not and that little test is the best thing I know of to really find out-- of course it only works for those who want to know the answer LOL
Thanks for a really good hub. I totally agree with you regarding the list "A Test for Alcoholism". Here in Denmark nearly 5% of our population has a huge problem drinking to much alcohol.
Thanks Robie for the great Hub. Nice job and great information, I really liked the video, excellent!
thanks clean life-- hmmmm I think that kind of praise coming from someone living a clean life is a real compliment. Glad you stopped by and took the time to comment.
Robie, here I am again, I just wanted to re-read this hub. The more I re-read the happier I am that I surrendered to this horrible addiction. All 8 points were me to the tee. I'm so glad I quit when I did.
Thanks again Robie and thanks for sharing., Its always a pleasure reading your hubs.
Mark
Hi Mark-- and I am so flattered that you wanted to re-read this hub and congrats on your sobriety. So many do not recover-- the freedom is a real gift.
12 years of sobriety under my belt...I look back on all the years I wasted (pardon the pun) and wish I had them back.
HI John and thanks for taking the time to comment. Congratulations on those 12 years-- that's twelve years you wouldn't have had if you had kept drinking I bet-- or at least would not have good memories of.
Hi Robie, great hub. I'm not a heavy drinker, but this really makes you think and examine the routines you take for granted.
Hi Tristand-- glad you liked it and thanks for stopping by. yup we all need to examine the routines we take for granted now and then:-)
Wow... I decidedly know I drink more than I should, particularly also as I am on anti-anxiety pills... but the idea of being in DTS.. horror... I just turned 30 - started drinking moderately at 21 and more frequently since....
Scary stuff :< but... idk
sometimes i feel normal
sometimes I feel guilt....
In Prague - they don't have this concept. Not to say not acknowledging a problem doesn't make it true.
[sigh] ;<
I grew up w/ a dad who drank beer regularly (not to excess) and a mom who EXCEPTIONALLY rarely drank... my twin got us all into wine... and very negative circumstances may have lead to me drinking more than I should.... Am i Just pathetically weak?
(this asked after 3 glasses of wine during the course of preparing chicken and rice soup for my wonderful BF who has the cold and then doing the dishes).....
-C
Hi Cleo-- thanks for sharing all that and I hope the chicken was good and your BF is feeling better. That said, sounds like you have some concerns about your drinking and are afraid it is getting out of hand. Maybe you know on some level, that you could not pass the little test in this hub and have mixed feelings about trying it.
Instead of the test, I'd suggest that you google "alcoholism" to read up on the disease and get some ideas about how it works. There are also forums and chat rooms online that can give you information.
Please don't feel guilty or ashamed or think you are weak. It isn't about weakness of character, it is about physical addiction and a very powerful urge. Just get more information and then you can decide whether or not you have a problem and whether or not you want to stop.
Thanks for reading and commenting and Good luck to you
Answered yes to every question.:).
Good hub.I am a recovering alcoholic and think the differance is as you said how far down the road you have travelled.
I didn,t start drinking alcoholicly but eventually went down the slippery slope of no return.
Glad you liked the hub lyndre, and congratulations on your recovery. Thanks too for sharing it here with all the people who really can't imagine that recovery from alcoholism is possible.
Good hub. My simple question to find out if your drinking too much is...Can you and will you quit drinking for an undetermined amount of time without a second thought or it becoming a struggle? If not then you have a dependency.
One of the best feelings I have had came 2 months after I quit drinking. I realized I had my life back. Before that I was drinking a bottle of whiskey a day. There is nothing wrong with the occasional drink. It is the daily dependency that kills you.
Exactly ! That is the perfect question DaNoblest, only problem is giving oneself an honest answer:-) Congrats on your self honesty and on getting a handle on your drinking.
Thanks for sharing your experience here.
Hmm well so many people call it heavy drinking, social drinking, but coming from an alcoholic home myself, I understand how bad it is. Fortunately everywhere I look someone is drinking, they think they don't have a problem, but I feel if you have to have a glass of alcohol, a shot a day, or what ever, you are dependent, and you can call it what ever, but the thing is I can walk any where in my town whether rich or poor, I can't escape someone drinking or trying to hand me drink. Even though I don't drink on a regular basis, I understand it can take over your life in a second, cloud your thinking, judgement, choices, there are more problems it can cause including my sanity. If the goverment took away alcohol, I think all the alcoholics would stand up! :) lol
The difference is the physiological craving. The phenomenon of craving exists in an alcoholic. I cannot tell you how many times I said , I would just have one. Only to have that one turn in to one more and one more and one more. I have no idea how many times the idea of a quick one on the way home turned into me closing the bar 6 hours later.
A heavy drinker can have just one.....A heavy drinker chooses when they are going to get loaded....and alcoholic ends up loaded saying...DAMN it happened again
at least this has been my experience
Absolutely, zduck-- and when you combine psychological craving with physical withdrawal symptoms, quitting is net to impossible without help. Thanks for sharing your experience
It's really shocking that 48% of adult American don't actually drink! I wonder what's the figure in UK. The drunks have cost millions of pounds every year and because hospitals have to treat excessive drinkers every weekends, they become short of staffs. And therefore, couldn't attend to emergency calls efficiently. Why can't people just drink moderately and behave?
HI Myi4u-- well I guess that's why they call it addiction LOL. They tried outlawing booze here in the USA and it backfired bigtime sooooooooo I'm for individual responsibility not the lifestyle police-- thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Informative hub.
thanks :-)
great hub. there is so much alcoholism in my family that I don't drink at all. I don't want to die drunk like so many of my family members have.
Well-written article. You compared alcoholic and heavy drinker very well. Like your hub.
Thanks shea and jamie. Glad you liked the hub and thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
I knew I would probably fail this test, however, I found it very informative. I know that I'm a heavy drinker but wanted to know the difference between an "alcoholic" and a "heavy drinker".
Hopefully one day I will be able to beat this, even though I'm doubtful. The reason being is that I suffer multiple diseases and this "seemly" helps, even though, in the long term, I know it doesn't.
The strange part is is that I'm considered a very intelligent person, regardless.
Ahhh Tempest-- you are not only intelligent but also able to be honest with yourself which puts you one step ahead of the game--of course you can't stop by yourself just like that-- that's why they call it addiction :-)and I get that you simply cannot imagine your life without alcohol and far from thinking it is a problem, it is all that is holding you together.
I can only say one thing and that is you can't beat it alone. Please check the links to resources in this hub when you are ready to think about quitting. I know that is not now, but this is progressive. It doesn't get better on its own, so if you cannot moderate your drinking on your own, think about getting some help from folks who have been there and know the drill.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing so honestly.
Very simple my friend, an alcoholic cannot function in everyday life without the substance, a heavy drinker can disassociate themselves at any point without the great battle
Exactly, SarahJG- it is very simple indeed-- but not easy for the person trying to figure it out:-)
In my younger days, I drank along with friends...socially. Fortunately, it never became an "issue" and most of us soon made choices as adults whether to drink or not, sometimes, often or never. My decision was basically made for me when I was prescribed a medication I must take where alcohol is contraindicated. So, I simply don't do anything alcoholic. I don't miss it at all. I've dealt with Alcoholics on a personal level though, and I'm convinced NO ONE should drink if there is any chance whatsoever it can get a hold on you. What DEVASTATION it causes.
totally agree, fpherj48, and thanks for sharing your personal experience as a non problem drinker. I'm finding this thread fascinating. It is easy to see who is suffering and who is not over alcohol just by the comments they make
I went to rehab in 1990 and never looked back. For me you either drink or don't and for the sake of my health, wealth and happiness, I decided no drinking was the only route for me.
Great article, awesome topic.
Great comment, Jennifer and an awesome, honest share. Congratulations and thanks for taking time to read and share here
What if they pass the test just to prove your opinion of them being an alcoholic is wrong, but then plastered drunk the next day because its been so long since they've had more than one?
Well,Kayla, I would say offhand that such a person is definitely not interested in quitting. I'd further speculate that this person probably is an alcoholic but doesn't want to know about that and has just proved to him/herself by taking the test that he/she is just a social drinker. If I were you I would drop it-- you can't change somebody else. If the drinking is a dealbreaker for you find another friend, boyfriend whatever. If this is a parent or spouse, get yourself to Al Anon and get some help.
I would rather not drink at all than just drink one before food...that's just a tease...a trap...
Definitely an interesting read. I know someone close to me who struggles with drinking and is definitely in denial about it at times. I think it can be really hard on the people in your life because of how your drinking affects them isn't something they tend to think about. I live in Melbourne, Australia and what you describe as binge drinking is fairly common place for lots of people, on any given night, from the age of 18 upwards. 5 drinks or more on a Fri, Sat night is way too commmonplace for here, unfortunately. It has become a societal norm.
So, it's noon on my day off and nobdy is home, I've had most of a bottle of wine.... feel bad about myself!
oops sorry-- just noticed all these comments. Thanks to all three of you for reading and commenting.
Daniel, I hear you-- but the one every night for a week is just a test if you want to see if you are getting out of control. Most alcoholics can't or won't do it.
Litliaisons--Yes indeed, they say that one drinking alcoholic seriously affects at least four other people in a significant way. And yes, most alcoholics are in denial not only about how much and how they drink, but also about the negative effects their drinking has on others-- denial is one of the hallmarks of alcoholism.
Robbie Jane-- so, I'm thinking that if you are downing bottles of wine alone before noon on Saturday, you are definitely on your way down the tubes. Feeling bad is no substitute for action. Get help-- there are lots of resources out there--some listed in this Hub. AA meetings and online chats are free and offer lots of information and support. AND they really are anonymous. It's up to you, but I'll tell you one thing-- it isn't going to get better all by itself, and if you think you feel bad now, just wait!
I just passed the 7-day test! Does that mean I can celebrate by going out and getting drunk with a clear conscience?
Sure Candide001-- you can do whatever you want to do. The test isn't for anybody else, it's just for you. If the test was easy for you and you are sure that you don't have a problem, belly up to the bar and the next time you are wondering about your drinking, take it again. Cheers:-)
Don't know how I missed it the first time, but had to laugh at the irony of "we Americans are a pretty puritanical lot" when, in fact, until the end of the 1900s alcohol in any form was the preferred and safest beverage for Puritans (and non-Puritans, too), because untreated water could be, and often was, a death sentence.
I'd also like to add a question to the list of questions to determine whether or not you're an alcoholic:
#9. Do you feel extremely uncomfortable around, or consciously avoid, people who don't drink because you "sense" their disapproval (even if they never say so)?
Hi Jama-- well, I was thinking of puritanical in a broader sense as in sexual mores and making things that really are not moral issues-- but never mind. You are right about beer being safer than water back in the day. And I love the additional question which I think is right on the money. Glad you stopped by and thanks for adding such a great comment to the conversation.
good comments but 1 to 2 drinks a day are suprisingly healthy for you unless alcoholism was a prior issue. Good for the heart and hey it reduces stress too why not. Look it up :)
Hi William--Of course we all know that one glass of wine or one cocktail a day is good for people.( I think it is literally one for a woman and two for a man)
I certainly don't mean to give the impression that I am against drinking or think that one drink is going to lead anyone to alcoholism. This hub is not about social drinking. It is about figuring out where social drinking ends and alcoholism begins-- something that most genuinely moderate drinkers don't ever worry about, so by process of elimination, most of the comments here are from people who are worried about their drinking on some level or another and are addressing that issue. Nobody is disputing the joys or heath benefits of a beer at the ballgame, wine with dinner, or a drink at a cocktail party-- cheers:-)
VioletSun Level 5 Commenter 2 years ago
Robie: I found this article to be straight forward. Having an alcoholic Dad who died from an alcoholic overdose and a brother who went the same path, and both were brillant men, and an ex who is an alcoholic, I am delighted that my mate drinks zip, nada as he doesn't want anything to interfire with his mind. As for me a couple of glasses of wine once in a while when going out is relaxing. The percentage of folks who do not drink does not surprise me, most of my friends are also not drinkers, not even a wine.
Good to see you. :)