What makes a person an alcoholic?
When I drink, I have a problem with stopping. I am able to consume large quantities of it without getting sick, just very very drunk. Of course, in the morning I rarely have a coherent recollection of the previous night. If I thought I could function and was not aware of the unavoidably toxic nature of excessive alcohol consumption, I would do this every day. As it is, I will do this about once a week. Am I an alcoholic?
Ahh well, I was more interested in the definition of alcoholic. I don’t think I am one… just wondering if the rest of the world disagreed with me. 
I think that pretty much says it all right there.
I don’t know you but based on your answers, I’d say there’s definitely a problem. Just MHO. I’m not a doctor/recovering alcoholic/psychiatrist.
So didya take the quiz?
I disagree. And I’m not a big fan of the “checklist”, as it would consider having a beer while watching a football game alone to be a red flag.
The biggest clue, IMO, is if you only drink to get drunk. If your reaction to having one or two drinks and stopping is “what’s the point?”, then yeah, quite possibly you’re an alcoholic.
Yep… not an alcoholic.
Hmm, I enjoy a glass of wine every once in awhile. I don’t like beer. I tend to drink liquor when I want to get drunk. I mean, wine is good and I would consider drinking one or two glasses for it’s health benefits, but in general I don’t like alcoholic drinks. So yeah, I drink to get drunk. What IS the point, otherwise?
One caveat to drinking only to get drunk…many youngsters haven’t learned how nice and relaxing a mellow background buzz can be.
So if you’re under, say, 24, I wouldn’t worry too much that you haven’t learned what happy hour is all about.
all 3 of us in the office took the AA test and guess what?
we’re all alcoholics!
How serious is this “problem with stopping”? Does it mean you are sometimes unable to stop? I am a recovering alcoholic (10 years sober) and this doesn’t sound good to me. An alcoholic is someone who has lost the ability to control how much they drink. If you start out intending to “just have a couple” and keep overshooting the mark, then obviously have “lost control” of how much you drink.
Another bad sign here. It’s called an “alcoholic blackout”, no memory of what you did when you were drunk.
You say you only do this once a week. AA has a name for this, it’s called a “periodic alcoholic”. IMHO from my own personal experience and that of many other alcoholics, I would have to say that you are definately “Alcoholically Challanged”. If your drinking is causing you problems or you think it might, then you best get some help.
I drink almost every day. I find it hard to go out and have just one drink with a friend. I sometimes drink to get drunk. I sometimes drink so much i can’t remember what i did. Am i an alcoholic? According to the AA test i am. However i’m not addicted to alcohol, and it is not causing me any problems.
I think if you accept the results of that test, a significant proportion of the UK would be classified as an alcoholic.
Have a look at www.downyourdrink.org Their definition of alcoholic is someone who is physically addicted to drink (ie. when you stop drinking for a couple of days you feel better whereas an alchoholic would suffer withdrawl). Just because you’re not an alcoholic doesn’t mean you don’t have a drink problem though. Anyway, the site is about drinking responsibly and has a course to show you how to do so. It’s a UK site. And yeah, I drink too much too!
On re-reading this thread, it seems drinking heavily is a direct result of living in London 
Hmmm.
I say “Hmmmm” too.
“I’m not addicted” and “I’m not one” are repeated by drunks until A) they admit a problem and begin working to recovery or B) they die.
I agree with the points made by nebco9 .
yeah, my sister used to smoke get high (smoke weed) like 3 times a day and say she wasn’t addicted. almost every pothead i know says they’re not addicted.
[rabbit trail]i heard on Good Day Live (a news show based in CA) that scientists are studying a new test to see if people are “genetic alcoholics”. it’s actually a taste test. they say genetic alcoholics are more sensitive to salty and sour tastes. i’m probably one since eating startbursts, skittles, a=or anything like that makes my face like it’s turning red and breaking out in a sweat. just thinking of sour stuff makes me feel like that’s gonna happen… and besides just about all my mom’s family are/were alcoholics.
by the way, MmmDonut, love your name! alot of people on this board have such funny names.
is your name based on the lunachicks song?
None at all?