Looked at my beer belly in mirror yesterday and that was enough.The combination of hard physical work and a motorcycle accident( 40 yrs. ago) finally caught up with me 3 yrs. ago. That big extra around middle isn't helping.

If you are wondering if you are an alcoholic, you can quit wondering.

How true. Also, if someone boasts that he can control his drinking...

I never had the problem because I'm fortunate to not like the stuff much. Maybe 2 - 4 times a year I'll be in the mood for just one beer or glass of wine. That's it.

But cigarettes - that's another story of a life long battle won, so I share the knowledge of the pain and helplessness (it seemed) of addiction. I'm not pompous enough to be critical of addiction, but only sad.

The people who are addicted to alcohol make me so sad that everyday i have to drink some wine or a couple of beers.

Good OP TB, and yet another good point in your response to yermanee in this post.

Whereas the individual should be aware of the Trap, the friends of the individual should also be aware of the signs of this happening. The person who ends up with the problem is usually the last to know, normally through self-denial and at that point it can be too late.

On the subject of alcoholism, I made a smart-ass post the other day with reference to drinking and alcoholism because I didn't fully read what the person I replied to had said. I have apologized for this, but think it may be worth reading. The link is:

http://www.thaivisa....50#entry5819378

Basically what it says is that you don't have to be an alcoholic to have a drink problem

Another good post! IMO, your last line is the most important....and very true in my own experience. I didn't see myself as alcoholic, but I was putting away around 2 bottles of wine every night a few years ago (and the witch never even approached princess status). The working day was sustained with a LOT of strong black coffee.

Luckily, a totally unrelated hospital visit highlighted what the alcohol was doing to me and I had a strong wake-up call (for a while), but the call of the red was too strong. Almost four years ago, I left my ex, and suddenly the need desire to obliterate hours of my life disappeared. Be clear, I am not putting the blame on her...she had her own drink problem, bet wasn't lucky enough to wake up and see it....maybe she's still hitting the bottle, I do not know.

Now, I have a very wary view of alcohol. I hardly drink... just the odd dram now and again. On reflection, maybe I was / am alcoholic, because if I were to start back on the wine, I could imagine me taking more and more......so, for me, it is easier to stay off it, as I do not want to find out the answer to my own question.

Why the hell do I feel the compunction to bare all to you lot??

i managed to quit wine as well. a bottle a night is my regular routine and sparkling wine feast every weekend. no hospital trips but i finally gave up the long dragged search for sensible wine at sensible price after trying the highly recommended mont clair. just unbelievable, i would rather a bottle of spy than paying 900 baht for that thing. i dont think anyone could get wine trapped here, pockets would had blown before you would had step in anything