Alcoholic vs. Enthusiast

FAWK.. got a 7 on that alcoholic test.
Remind me NOT to buy a beer for whoever posted that wretched test.

 

Why do I have to be one or the other? I consider myself a rather high functioning alcoholic enthusiast.

 

I know, right? I was happy with my 4 until I saw a 2 or higher means you need help. Seriously a TWO? Anyone who's ever drank would score at least a two on those questions. I mean one of the questions is can you drink now more than you used to. Well, I hope so! Sheesh!

 

Ask yourself how often you wake up not remembering how or when it was you went to sleep...

 

As usual - threads about alcoholism on a site dedicated to drinking beer = probably not the most useful source of information. Drinking a 4 pack of a DIPA isn't an alcoholic yardstick. Could mean one thing for one guy and something else entirely for another. What's missing on here is context plus someone actually qualified to make a judgement specific to the individual once context has been provided.

Honestly - given how often fairly harmless posts get nuked on here, I'm always surprised that these don't get deleted as soon as they appear.

 

Alcoholic or enthusiast?? I've been both; enthusiast is better.

 

I only drink 1 beer a day but their all Bruery Stouts

 

I consistently have a beer on most evenings but I definitely don't consider myself an alcoholic. I'm not having that beer because I need to, I'm having that beer because I want to and I enjoy it. I'm not an expert on alcoholism but I believe that someone who is an alcoholic does not drink by choice (for the most part) and is involuntarily held hostage by alcohol.

 

That test is ridiculous!!! It says a 2 or more indicates you may be at higher risk of alcoholism. That's pretty non-committal language and anyone who doesn't answer yes to at least two of those questions is either 10 years old or remarkably boring.

For example:

#2: Can you handle more alcohol now than when you first started to drink? Well, that's generally how things work.

#5: Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available? I was at a wedding once where the bar had bud light (keg) and boxed wine (not the good kind, the $5 kind in plastic tumblers), so as far as I was concerned there was no alcohol available and it was kind of a bummer.

#7: When you’re sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while drinking? Seriously, did these people not go to college?

My total score was a 7 as well, but I'm not feeling particularly worried, seeing as I have a cold and haven't a beer for 5 days now.

 

Usually, the so-called "high functioning alcoholic" is sort of a myth. Or at least a temporary state. They may keep it together and be a good performer at work or socially adept or what have you, but typically it's only a matter of time before the cracks begin to show/grow with someone who has a physical dependence on alcohol. At some point that dependency will conflict with personal obligations and given that choice, the alcoholic will choose to feed the physical dependency. Often, the effort that goes into maintaining high function in one area, say the job, eventually leads to shortcomings in other areas--especially areas that are more private and less subject to scrutiny. For example, home life.

 

Alcoholism has nothing to do with amount consumed, or whether you get drunk or not. It's whether you are physically and/or psychologically addicted to alcohol. Moderation is good for health reasons, but it's neither here nor there when it comes to alcoholism. You can be an alcoholic who only has one beer a night with dinner. You can also be a non-alcoholic who drinks a six-pack of 12% barleywine in a single night once a month.

 

This is an easy one. Craft beer geeks go to bottle shares, alcoholics to to AA meetings. Haha , seriously though, this is a question I often consider, as well as one my friends and family pose to me. I take a few days off each week from alcohol (unless a special event), and I don't feel an urge to drink those days. I do attend bottle shares and go to breweries often on weekends, where I might imbibe a lot of different beers (small pours). In general, I try not to get too hammered, but it occasionally happens.

 

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking

Generally, a serving of beer is considered to be 12oz. of 5% abv..

Risk of developing an "alcohol use disorder" has to do with a lot of variables other than volume/amount and frequency, which a lot of people have already alluded to (including genetics). Being said, men are typically at low risk if they consume 2 or less (standard) beers per day.

Drinking four 12oz. DIPAs (likely 8-10% abv) is definitely binge drinking and not what the doctor ordered.

Cheers

 

I agree with the person who said they were addicted to buying beer. OH SO TRUE. I mean have you ever bought clothes? Shoes? I have. Have you ordered from mail order? I have. If you combine the idea that you can try NEW BEER every day for the rest of your life with the thrill of trading or mail order and seeing packages delivered to your house frequently . . . now that is addicting.

 

I don't believe the line is a fine one at all. It's black and white to say the least. Let's get real about this. Enjoying alcoholic beverages is not in the same circle as alcohol dependency. If you've ever known (or been) a substance dependent individual, then you know what I mean.

 

I got a 12 on the test. But according to my doc, I'm in good health. Might be the weight training and cardio I do 6x per week. And my diet is with clean foods. I call BS with this test. At least with me and what I do each day. If you don't workout, are over weight, eat poorly, depressed, stressed out.... the test score you get might be more accurate.

 

Enthusiast and Alcoholic are not near the same. An enthusiast loves brew. Enjoys it. Appreciates it. An alcoholic doesn't care what he is drinking as long as he is.

 

That is so true. There is a visible difference between the "rummy" int he gutter with a bottle of the cheapest rotgut and the beer "enthusiast" who is lamenting because he could not find the latest greatest IPA. I would say the quetion you could ask yourself is this - "do you lie about how much you drink?" "Do you sneak around to drink?" Even those questions are not perfect because if you ask my family, they will rephrase that question to "did you have enough to drink?" (Like did you have enough to eat) and that is a cultural difference.

 

I too was surprised the threshold was so low, but keep in mind, the 2-8 range is meant to indicate that you *might* have an issue that is worth looking into further since an online quiz can't really accurately diagnose alcoholism. That range is probably overly broad because a yes answer to *any* of those questions is a potential warning sign for alcoholism. Key word being potential.

The other thing to remember is that you should be answering the questions with regard to your existing consumption habits. Yeah, I probably said/did some things while drinking that I regretted when I was sober back in college, but I graduated college over a decade ago and my consumption habits don't even remotely resemble my habits back then.

 

i dont think there is a fine line, becuase i know folks who are both!

kidding aside I know a few real alchohlics, trust me i bet less than 1% of BAs qualify.

exemple, this person has 4 DUIs and sips scotch to stop his shakes and get back to sleep.
someone else i know cant only have 1 or 2 beers, they go overboard everytime they drink.

but its healthy for us to be aware of it from time to time.

my rule of thumb, if it does not effect work, family/friends and rent/mortgage than your ok.