Binge Drinker, Dependant Or Pure Alcoholic?

[gusgorman]

There are differences in my eyes, however, this test some one posted on here as below, makes us all look like alcoholics, even my mum who is virtually tee total. So is this a real test or scaremongering?

1. Is drinking making your home life unhappy? At times.

2. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare? Never.

3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people? At times.

4. Is drinking affecting your reputation? No.

5. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble? No.

6. Do you drink alone? Never.

7. Have you lost time from work due to drinking? No.

8. Has your ambition decreased since drinking? No.

9. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking? At times.

10. Is drinking jeopardising your job or business? No.

11. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? Yes.

12. Are you in financial difficulties as a result of drinking? No.

13. Do you turn to or seek an inferior environment when drinking? No. (Exact opposite)

14. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? No.

15. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? No.

16. Do you want a drink the next morning? No.

17. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence? At times.

18. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking? No.

19. Has your doctor ever treated you for drinking? No.

20. Have you ever been in hospital or prison because of drinking? No.

1 Yes and many at times, it is all a bit wishy washy, yet still i know when i do go out, maybe once every two weeks i drink far too much for one night, a bit of a binger i would say. Yet i am aware i have no control over this, so does that mean i have a serious problem? Not an alcoholic as i dont crave it at all, and do not get affected if i dont go out for longer than two weeks. Yet for certain the drink controls me when i am out. I cannot say enough and stop, i just keep on until bars close. What do i do about that?

[gmac]

There are differences in my eyes, however, this test some one posted on here as below, makes us all look like alcoholics, even my mum who is virtually tee total. So is this a real test or scaremongering?

1. Is drinking making your home life unhappy? At times.

2. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare? Never.

3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people? At times.

4. Is drinking affecting your reputation? No.

5. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble? No.

6. Do you drink alone? Never.

7. Have you lost time from work due to drinking? No.

8. Has your ambition decreased since drinking? No.

9. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking? At times.

10. Is drinking jeopardising your job or business? No.

11. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? Yes.

12. Are you in financial difficulties as a result of drinking? No.

13. Do you turn to or seek an inferior environment when drinking? No. (Exact opposite)

14. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? No.

15. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? No.

16. Do you want a drink the next morning? No.

17. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence? At times.

18. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking? No.

19. Has your doctor ever treated you for drinking? No.

20. Have you ever been in hospital or prison because of drinking? No.

1 Yes and many at times, it is all a bit wishy washy, yet still i know when i do go out, maybe once every two weeks i drink far too much for one night, a bit of a binger i would say. Yet i am aware i have no control over this, so does that mean i have a serious problem? Not an alcoholic as i dont crave it at all, and do not get affected if i dont go out for longer than two weeks. Yet for certain the drink controls me when i am out. I cannot say enough and stop, i just keep on until bars close. What do i do about that?

Not sure you have a drinking problem at all. Sounds to me like social drinking, done because of a situation, maybe going out with friends and continuing to drink until closing time. You seem able to stop at any time, although, and it's the same for me, once you've had a few the temptation to carry on all night is hard to resist.

I'm not saying it isn't bad for your health, it probably is but if you don't feel any need to go for a drink and only have a session occasionally I can't see that you are addicted.

[OxfordWill]

I think that test is scaremongering. As you hinted, it applies to almost everyone. So vague and broad.