How often do you have to drink per week to be an alcoholic?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

You're an alcoholic when you have to drink, not because you drink. You can drink every day and not be an alocholic, or you can only drink once a month and be an alcoholic. It's when you have to drink and can't stop that you have crossed the line.

It isn't a question of how much or how often you drink that makes you an alcoholic, it is a question of how dependent you are on alcohol. When you can no longer function without a drink you are an alcoholic. When you care more about your next drink than anything else in your life you are an alcoholic. When you are willing to lose the love of your family and friends to keep on drinking you are an alcoholic.
No one ever woke up and decided that today is the day I become an alcoholic. All alcoholics start out as casual drinkers and end up in the gutter. If you want to know what the real warning signs are Alcoholics Anonymous has a list that you should look up.

Its not an issue of how MUCH you drink. It depends on if you're addicted to alcohol. An alcoholic is defined simply as someone who is addicted to alcohol.

If you don't know if you're addicted, there are some questions you can ask yourself to help you determine this.

1) Do you ever think about or talk about drinking while sober?
2) Have you ever had a blackout?
3) Could you stop drinking right now, for the rest of your life and be 100% OK with that?

If you answered yes to the first two questions and no to the last question, there is good possibility that you are addicted.

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Having gone through alcohol treatment programs and from having read several books on alcoholism, I can tell you that most of the other answers are somewhat incorrect. Alcoholics CAN function, though some of them don't. Alcoholics can be very successful individuals. They can be very loving husbands, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc.. An person DOES NOT have to hit rock bottom to be an alcoholic.

Alcohol is a drug just like any other drug. Just because someone is addicted to a drug does not mean they can't function out in the world. For example, although I am an alcoholic, I have always held a job, have always paid my bills and have always loved my husband and children. Its a myth that all alcoholics are losers who get drunk everyday all day long and can't hold a job, though there are SOME alcoholics are like this.

recovering alcoholic

like any addiction your addicted when you need it. If you feel like you cant live life with out having another beer or whatever then your an alcoholic. My friends dad is one he has been drinking since he was 14 hes now like 40-50 something and if he doesn't have at least two beers a day he will start shaking and almost seizures (or something along those lines from what i saw at his daughters wedding).

The frequency does not matter; it's how drunk you get and why, that is most important.

There are "weekend alcoholics" - people who spend Friday night through Monday morning drunk out of their skulls. And there are full-time alcoholics who are constantly under the influence, though not always falling down drunk.

Role Impairment (e.g. failed work or home obligations)
Hazardous use (e.g. Driving, swimming or operating machinery while intoxicated)
Legal problems related to Alcohol use
Social or interpersonal problems due to Alcohol
Criteria: DSM-IV Alcohol Dependence (3 criteria for over 1 year)
Tolerance (increased drinking to achieve same effect)
Alcohol Withdrawal signs or symptoms
Drinking more than intended
Unsuccessful attempts to cut down on use
Excessive time related to Alcohol (obtaining, hangover)
Impaired social or work activities due to Alcohol
Use despite physical or psychological consequences

24 beers, a couple bottles of wine, a full bottle of straight alcohol. Just kidding, if you have to ask your probably an alcoholic.

I don't think it comes down to a specific amount... I'd say it's more about the addiction. When you start 'needing' it as opposed to wanting it, when it starts adversly affecting your life... Then I think there's a problem.

Not only How many times A week ...What also matters is how many you drink that day And what Beverage you are drinking ...I would say More than 5 drinks A day And 4 times out the week weekend or not!... I would start getting worried.

You have to drink every day pretty much to the point where you're drunk. Don't really wanna know why you need to know, though...