I don't think it's how often or how much but how you react....possibly if relatives and others are calling you on it , there might be some behavior that is upsetting them. Are you bothered by your drinking?

Try stopping, first off. Do you obsess? If you do drink, can you stop at one? Binge drinking definitely can be a form of alcholism.

Go to an AA meeting. Can you relate to anyone's story?

Sometimes others see things that we cannot. Start investigating with an open AA meeting-just listen.

Only you can say if you are an alcoholic or not. I'd second Sunflower's question...are you bothered by your drinking? Do you drink more than you expected or intended? Have you had consequences you wish you hadnt?

Reply#2, Karmic has a useful suggestion for you.

I got sober with Alcoholics Anonymous. This is what our book of the same name, commonly referred to as the "Big Book" concludes after looking at the subject in the first three chapters:

"In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the non-alcoholic.

If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic."

Why not call the helpline and have a chat with someone. You are not signing up to anything, they just want to be helpful to those who are puzzled about their drinking. You may learn something useful.

I was a binge drinker. When I was in my 20's it was only on the weekends or special ocassions. As the years went by, the binges ebbed and flowed..sometimes months could pass without drinking. The last few years, my binges became more and more frequent. Me, myself and I had to come to terms with "binging" Don't waste your years. I am so much happier now.

Is your binge intentional? Do you go out with the express decision to get as wasted as possible, or do you decide to drink but end up on a binge that you had not planned at all?

Have you ever tried to quit drinking? Try giving up for 3 months and see how it goes. If you cannot do it, you may be alcoholic - in which case check out an AA meeting - if you want a relative to go with you (Personally I don't think that's a very good idea) then make sure you go to a meeting that is OPEN.

It's not about how much you drink, or how often you drink - it's about what happens to you when you drink.

Feel free to pm me if I can help at all.

Lyn