https://ncadd.org/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-abuse-self-test

I used to take these tests and then would either not answer honestly or not believe that if I answered 15 out of 20 I had a problem with alcohol. I would tell myself the test was wrong. I was in denial. Only way for this Alchie is acceptance. It took me about six months sober to learn even what that word ment.

1is2many

18 here

There is no clear set criteria because it's not something you can diagnose with a positive test result so if you go onto websites and search for checklists for alcoholism see how many you check off. in general I tend to think it's that if you tried to stop and can't or you keep drinking even though you know it's causing you bad results then you probably have the drinking problem. I too don't like the word alcoholic because it's so heavy loaded with other prejudices. as long as you don't resist the label because you're in denial of your poor relationship with alcohol just do whatever you need to do to stop drinking.

The fact that you cannot diagnose it with a positive test result is more fuel for my opinion that alcoholism is not a disease, but rather a label that is often loosely applied (by ourselves and others) to those who consistently continue to drink and then exhibit some unacceptable social behavior as a result. Unacceptable social behavior might include saying something hurtful or foul to others, drunk driving or simply passing out on the couch etc. I have a friend who seemingly can drink an entire bottle of rum and you would hardly notice he is drunk. He escapes being labeled an alcoholic because his behavior remains acceptable. I myself was rarely accused of being an alcoholic because when I was drunk I was almost always gentle and happy. My wife experienced a different and foul side of my drunkenness and her refusal to accept me in that form is the biggest reason I felt the need to stop.

I don't think the socially unacceptable behavior is alcoholism; I think that sometimes it's the result of being drunk, like my aunt. she only drank once in her life but got plastered and sang "the old gray mare she ain't what she used to be" at the top of her lungs all night but she's hardly an alcoholic. I think the label may not be important but the recognition that drinking too much has to stop, is.

I forgot to say the ability to hold one's liquor is actually one of the signs of being an alcoholic (it's called building up a tolerance), so please be careful and think about your philosophies and tactics of how to stay sober.

Thanks for your reply Deli,

So what does it mean when you say "the ability to hold one's liquor"? I maintain that everyone can develop that ability over time. I really don't think I (or my friend) was born with a special ability to drink more than anyone else. It is a matter of conditioning my body with alcohol usage over time.

I think you are correct in saying that the label is not the issue and stopping the alcohol ingestion is. However, at this point in my quest I am of the opinion that accepting the label "alcoholic" can actually be detrimental. The label alcoholic carries some level of stigma that implies a sickness (disease) or genetic pre-disposition that needs to be recognized and then cured. While it may work for some people to say they are diseased and/or genetically pre-disposed to be an alcoholic, I simply do not buy that argument and refuse to join the club. I don't believe that alcohol use is any different than using any other unnatural substance that makes you "feel better" and it does not deserve a special label.

Building up a tolerance so you need to drink more to feel the effects is one of the markers of the first stage of alcoholism. As for the unnatural Comment with alcohol, I feel the need to correct you; alcohol is actually a naturally occurring substance. I do feel there is a special category of alcohol abuse vs, say, over eating or indulging in another unhealthy activity. it affects the body in a certain way and causes certain reactions. in order to heal yourself from this addiction you do need to recognize that it is a significant problem and the label unfortunately is alcoholism but if you prefer not to call it that, as long as you are on the road to wellness that's the important thing but I would tell a doctor that you are an alcoholic if if it ever comes up in a conversation because the doctor would need to know of your past alcohol abuse history.

Whatever works for you --- keep it going.
For me, its quite different. Until I could and did conceded that I'm alcoholic -- I left the door open to drink. No person in their right mind, who knows they are alcoholic, would pick up a drink. So as long as I keep that reality in the forefront of my mind; I'm on solid ground.
I don't run around telling people I'm alcoholic. But I do tell it to myself daily.
I also don't consider myself "diseased or abnormal." I'm a recovered alcoholic, period.
I'm also a mom; a best friend; a wife; a very successful executive; a runner; an equestrian; etc. These terms don't define me -- neither does the term alcoholic. But if I "forget" I'm alcoholic, all these other wonderful things in my life go to hell.
So I'll keep reminding myself; and I'll stay sober today.

Deli, just to clarify, by "unnatural" I meant it the ingestion of alcohol (ethanol) by humans is unnatural. Arsenic is also a natural occurring substance, but it would be unnatural for humans to consume it.

Getting back to the label issue, I wonder why we haven't created a similar label for people who are addicted to tobacco (nicotine). It certainly seems to fit the same basic addiction criteria as alcohol in that:

1) It tastes bad when we first try it.
2) We continue to use it if the nicotine "high" is something we enjoy and the substance is available (which is most certainly true).
3) Generally the more we use it the more of it we use.
4) Use of it results in scientifically proven harm to our general health.
5) Our bodies and minds become conditioned to the use of it and it becomes a hard-to-break bad habit.
6) It has been generally socially acceptable, (but now is much less socially acceptable than drinking).

So why does nicotine abuse and addiction not rise to the level of deserving its own label (Nicotinism and Nicotinics?) Perhaps the tobacco industry's bottom line would have been better served if they had more strongly promoted a possible link between nicotine addiction and a persons genetics. I might suggest to you that the alcoholic beverage industry actually benefits substantially from supporting the term "alcoholic" as it is meant to define and separate those few people (a small minority of their market) who do not "drink responsibly". The implication then becomes that there is nothing wrong, in fact possibly something healthy about drinking in "moderation".

The person who has labeled themselves an alcoholic has typically convinced themselves there is some physiological or genetic difference between themselves and those who can drink in "moderation". I maintain there are really no physiological or genetic based differences. There are simply people with no alcohol addiction level, and those with levels ranging from small to huge, brought about by the start and continued use of alcohol in an attempt to make yourself feel better.

I love our dialogue and the thoughts of you bring up! I never thought of the word alcoholic being used to describe a person and a beverage- that totally blows my mind! maybe a person with alcohol dependence is "worse" than a cigarette smoker because alcohol ruins more lives than cigarettes? Your point about drinking responsibly is a salient;
one I doubt the tobacco industry would remind us to smoke responsibly...

Alcohol and nicotine berry, berry bad to me...

Personally I do not think of alcoholism as a disease, but as an addiction. I was addicted to alcohol, just like I was addicted to nicotine many years ago.

I don't think there are "normal" drinkers just like I don't think there are "normal" cocaine or heroin users. It is a substance that gets you high. The only difference is that its use is socially acceptable.

I think there is a generally accepted term for people who are addicted to nicotine. They are called "smokers."

Alcohol is but a symptom of the problem.
1is2many