How much does an alcoholic drink each day?!
For better understanding look at one of the sources listed below or attend an AA meeting.
The action of alcohol on chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker.
These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.
This is directly out of the "Big Book"(a book designed to help alcoholics overcome this disease).
Answers: Alcoholism is a disease. It's not defined by how much you drink per day. It's an allergic reaction to the taste of alcohol.
For better understanding look at one of the sources listed below or attend an AA meeting.
The action of alcohol on chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker.
These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.
This is directly out of the "Big Book"(a book designed to help alcoholics overcome this disease).
as much as they can without hitting there face on the floor
Depends on how far along they are in their alcoholism... My uncle use to drink vodka straight from a big water bottle and there was always more in the truck to refill it when he got low...
Depends on how bad they are. There isn't a set amount that you drink that triggers being an alcoholic. Could be one drink, could be 20.
If the person needs to drink each day just to cope with life, depression etc...he/she is an alcoholic..
its not volume its Why you drink....
Note: alcohol is a deppresant. its a vicious cycle when you sober up you need it again cause you feel miserable.
An alcoholic is not solely judged by the amount or quantity, they are also judged by the effect the drinks have on their life or those around them.
I don't think it is really the amount that determines if one is an alcoholic. The fact that he / she drinks EVERY DAY says something. There's also an old saying about those who can drink first thing in the morning.
an alcoholic is a person that can not control theatre drinking it could be two beers a day if they have to have them
What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism?
Alcohol abuse, also called “problem drinking,” is a pattern of excessive drinking that results in adverse health and social consequences to the drinker, and often to those around the drinker. In cases of alcohol abuse, the person using alcohol in a destructive way has the ability to change his or her drinking habits. Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is characterized by an addiction to alcohol that is out of the drinker’s control—he or she cannot stop using alcohol despite the severe physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual consequences. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease that can be fatal if left untreated.
Charles Roper, Ph.D., coordinator of alcohol and drug education for the University of Texas at Austin, gives some behavioral differences between alcohol abuse and addiction on his website:
People with an alcohol abuse problem:
Use alcohol to help them change the way they feel about themselves and/or some aspect(s) of their lives.
Experience some problems associated with their alcohol use but use those experiences to set appropriate limits on how much and how often they drink.
Seldom, if ever, repeat the alcohol-related behaviors that have caused them problems in the past.
Get complaints about their alcohol use and accept those complaints as expressions of concern for their well-being.
People who are addicted to alcohol:
Experience negative consequences associated with drinking but continue to drink despite those consequences.
Set limits on how much or how often they will drink but unexpectedly exceed those limits.
Promise themselves and/or other people that they will drink in moderation but break those promises.
Feel guilty or remorseful about their drinking but still fail to permanently alter the way they drink.
Get complaints about their drinking and resent, discount, and/or disregard those comments and complaints.
What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse and alcoholism?
The Mayo Clinic provides a list of signs and symptoms that indicate that an abusive relationship to alcohol exists:
Drinking alone or in secret
Not remembering conversations or commitments—sometimes referred to as "blacking out"
Making a ritual of having drinks before, with or after dinner and becoming annoyed when this ritual is disturbed or questioned
Losing interest in activities and hobbies that used to bring pleasure
Irritability as usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn't available
Keeping alcohol in unlikely places at home, at work or in the car
Gulping drinks, ordering doubles, becoming intoxicated intentionally to feel good or drinking to feel "normal"
Having legal problems or problems with relationships, employment or finances
According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the following four additional symptoms indicate that an alcohol abuse problem has developed into an addiction to alcohol:
Craving – A strong need, or urge, to drink
Loss of control – Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun
Physical dependence – Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking
Tolerance – The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get "high."
What are the causes or of alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a disease with multiple causes that combine uniquely for every drinker who eventually becomes alcoholic. One or more of these causes may predominate, but in each case the risk factors are well known:
Brain chemistry imbalance – As a person engages in a regular habit of drinking, chemical changes in the brain take place. Alcohol consumption depletes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the chemical responsible for inhibiting impulsiveness, and it increases the production of glutamate (which excites the nervous system) and norepinephrine (a stress-producing hormone). Alcohol also acts in the system to release more dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that produce euphoria and a sense of well-being. Therefore, the active drinker is prone to seek more alcohol to accomplish two things: reduce the agitation brought on by hyperactivity in the brain; and restore the pleasure response in the brain stimulated by the alcohol.
Genetics – It is estimated that half of all cases of alcoholism are primarily caused by genetics: that is, the alcoholic possesses certain genes which predispose him or her to the disease. One study showed that the amygdala—the area of the brain thought to play a role in emotional craving—was smaller in individuals with a family history of alcoholism. Similarly, some people with alcoholism may have an inherited dysfunction in the transmission of serotonin.
Mental and emotional stress – Since alcohol blocks emotional pain, it is frequently resorted to as a “cover up” during times of temporary or ongoing stress or grief such as that experienced with the loss of a loved one or relationship, unresolved family tensions, and chronic work stress.
Psychological factors – Low self-esteem and depression make one more vulnerable to excessive drinking and alcoholism.
Social and cultural pressures – The media and popular culture are filled with messages and images that legitimize or even glamorize frequent or excessive drinking. Also, associating with people who are able to drink socially, and encourage the same behavior in those around them, is dangerous to the alcoholic trying to abstain from drinking.
What are the adverse health effects of alcohol abuse?
While some studies have shown that low to moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for certain conditions, such as heart disease, regular and prolonged use of alcohol leads to a host of health problems, such as:
Impaired mental functioning – Loss of verbal memory and slower reaction times are associated with drinking, as are mild neurological impairments such as headaches and insomnia.
Liver disorders – About 10% to 35% of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis (damaging inflammation in the liver). And, between 10% to 20% of these individuals develop cirrhosis, a progressive scarring of the liver that can eventually be fatal.
Gastrointestinal problems – Violent vomiting can produce tears in the junction between the stomach and esophagus. Alcoholism poses a high risk for diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and increases the risk for ulcers
Heart disease and stroke – Heavy drinking is associated with abnormal blood clotting factors, high blood pressure, increased risk for stroke, irregular heart beats, and an enlarged heart.
Lung disorders – Acute alcoholism is strongly associated with very serious pneumonia, and has also been shown as a strong contributing factor in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a type of potentially fatal lung failure.
Cancer – Alcoholics have a rate of carcinoma 10 times higher than that of the general population. Sustained heavy drinking has been implicated in upper digestive system and upper airway cancers, breast cancer (even with moderate intake), esophageal cancer, and vaginal and cervical cancers. Alcohol is not usually the direct cause, but evidence suggests that it increases other risk factors.
Skin, muscle, and bone disorders – Severe alcoholism is associated with osteoporosis (loss of bone density), muscular deterioration, skin sores, and itching.
Pregnancy and infant development complications – Even moderate amounts of alcohol can have damaging effects on the developing fetus, including low birth weight and an increased risk for miscarriage. High amounts can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that can cause mental and growth retardation.
Increased risk for other addictions – Researchers have found common genetic links between alcoholics and smokers addicted to nicotine.
How do I know if I have a drinking problem?
If you suspect you may be developing a drinking problem, ask yourself these four questions:
Do you need a drink as soon as you get up?
Do you feel guilty about your drinking?
Do you think you need to cut back on your alcohol consumption, but cannot?
Are you annoyed when other people make comments about your drinking habits?
If your honest answer to two or more of these questions is yes, than you probably have an alcohol problem and should seek help right away. For information on alcohol dependence treatment, see Helpguide Alcohol Abuse and Addiction: Self-Help, Prevention, and Treatment Options.
How can I tell if my teen has a drinking problem?
Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among young people. Teens consume more alcohol than all the other illicit drugs combined. Knowing the warning signals of alcohol use in your teen can help lead to early intervention, and can make a huge difference in your child’s recovery.
Certain warning signs indicate that your child may have a drinking problem. One or two of these signs are common in all children, especially teens, as they are adjusting to the bodily and social changes that are a part of their stage of life. It is advisable to have a talk with your child, however, if you notice several of the following signs:
The odor of alcohol
Sudden change in mood or attitude
Change in attendance or performance at school
Loss of interest in school, sports, or other activities
Discipline problems at school
Withdrawal from family and friends
Secrecy
Association with a new group of friends and reluctance to introduce them to you
Alcohol disappearing from your home
Depression and developmental difficulties
For helpful tips on talking about alcohol with your teenager, see Helpguide Alcohol Abuse and Addiction: Self-Help, Prevention, and Treatment Options
What tests determine alcohol abuse?
Recognizing the symptoms of alcoholism is not always an easy task because denial of the disease among alcoholics is widespread. Health care professionals use questionnaires designed to elicit patterns of behavior and health complaints that point to alcohol abuse. Blood alcohol tests, though useful for detection of recent episodes of drinking, are not valid indicators of chronic misuse. Blood tests that measure the red blood cell size, and those that measure a factor called carbohydrate-deficient transferrin are much more reliable. Tests that show evidence of typical alcohol-related health problems, such as liver damage or decreased testosterone in men, are also effective in convincing problem drinkers that they need help.
Too much...
Alcoholism isn't the amount, its the dependancy...
Too much! That's why they are alcoholics. One doesn't have to fall flat on their face to have had too much. Many alcoholics can handle their alcohol consumption well. It's just that they can't go without the alcohol.
If the first thing you reach for in the morning is a bottle of booze, you qualify!
It would depend on what kind of day they are having/ what kind of mood they are in. Sadly, it really does vary.
i was drinking 6 beers and 3/4 a bottle of whiskey in about 3hrs 6nights a week but now i am sober today thanks to AA
I knew an alcoholic that never drank more than 2 drinks a day.
She bought one beer then ran out for another beer each night. Driven to get the next beer.
She only weight like 90 pounds or less. She was short too.
She went to A.A.
alcoholics don't drink, they go to meetings, smoke and drink coffee....
but we drunks consume an average 2-4 beers after a days work. Sometimes we don't drink at all.
that depends on the individual alcoholic. i only drank 2 drinks every few weeks.