How to Tell if Someone has Alcohol Problems

Signs a Person is Drinking Too Much and Has a Drink Problem

Jul 16, 2009 Sharon Kirby

Worried about drinking too much alcohol or someone else's drinking? Here are some signs of out of control drinking habits and alcohol problems.

Regular heavy drinking can cause health problems such as liver damage, depression, reduced fertility and foetal abnormalities, social problems such as violence and debt, and increase the likelihood of having a serious accident. There is also a higher risk of heart problems, stroke, pancreatitis, and some cancers. Here are some of the signs a person may be drinking too much and has an alcohol problem.

Drinking Alcohol Every Day or Most Days of the Week

Drinking alcohol every day or most days can become a habit for some people. They may use alcohol in an attempt to ease anxiety, feel more confident and sociable, aid relaxation and sleep, or as a means of escaping from things that are difficult to face such as loneliness, bereavement or a relationship break down. They may even need a drink first thing in the morning to help them ‘get going’ with their day, or to help them cope with a hangover from drinking alcohol the day before.

Heavy drinking leads to an increased tolerance to alcohol, so more is needed in order to feel an effect. It can become difficult to limit alcohol consumption to only one or two drinks. This means the units of alcohol drunk each week begin to add up until they are way beyond the maximum recommended safe limits (21 units per week for men, 14 units per week for women).

Regularly Having Blackouts Due to Drinking Alcohol

Heavy alcohol consumption can cause short term memory loss by interfering with brain activity, which leads to an inability to remember events that happened during drinking. There may be large periods or small periods of time that are lost from memory, with some memorable events in between. It can be very frustrating and embarrassing for a drinker to be told of events that that he or she cannot remember, and sometimes even dangerous.

Blackout drinking may end with a loss of consciousness, after which a drinker make reawaken to not only feeling terrible, but to temporarily feeling confused, disorientated and unfamiliar with his or her surroundings. Some people appear to be more susceptible to blackout drinking than others.

Annoyance if People Comment on Drinking Habits

People with alcohol problems may become defensive and annoyed, and even verbally and physically aggressive when confronted about their drinking habits. This is because they may be in denial they have a problem, or they may be feeling guilty about how much alcohol they are actually drinking. A drinker may purposefully try to hide the amount of alcohol that he or she is drinking from family and friends.

Heavy drinkers can only receive help once they are prepared to admit they have a problem, and accept that alcohol is negatively affecting their lives and the lives of those around them. However, this is often a difficult and courageous thing for someone with a drink problem to do.

Some people are able to regain control over their drinking habits and go back to drinking in moderation without help. However, many people are not able to do this and need professional assistance, such as an alcohol counselling service. If an alcohol problem is suspected, the afflicted individual should seek the advice of a doctor about what to do.

For some tips on how to moderate alcohol consumption on a night out and avoid a hangover, read Hangover Prevention Tips.

References:

MedicineNet. "Alcoholism Facts." (Accessed July 16th 2009)
Patient UK. "Alcoholism and Problem Drinking." (Accessed July 16th 2009)

The copyright of the article How to Tell if Someone has Alcohol Problems in Abuse is owned by Sharon Kirby. Permission to republish How to Tell if Someone has Alcohol Problems in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Some People may have Alcohol Problems	Alcohol may be used to Escape Loneliness	A Drink is Needed First Thing in the Morning
Drinkers may be Secretive About Their Drinking	Many Units of Alcohol are Drunk Each Week