Serious Question: Drinking...how much is too much?

shopgirl · #1 03-11-2003, 09:24 AM

This question is for the day to day drinker rather than the partier.

Beer drinkers...how much do you drink? How much might be too much?

For example, do you drink beer every night? If so, how many do you have?

Edited to add:

I hardly consider myself a drinker. I may have a drink or two per MONTH. Alcohol has never been a part of my life or my family's life. Therefore, I may not know that drinking three to seven beers a day is no big deal. However, it SEEMS like a lot to me. So, I just wanted to get other people's thoughts and opnions.

Thank you.

#2 03-11-2003, 01:28 PM

I don't know that it's so much about the actual number of drinks, but about the frequency, the extent to which you become intoxicated, and the reason behind the drinking.

For example:
I like to have a glass of wine or a mixed drink once in a while with dinner, or when I'm just sitting around watching TV. I rarely drink enough in those situations to become intoxicated, or even buzzed.

Then some nights, I will go out with my friends, and have 4 or 5 mixed drinks, and get drunk.

I think if someone is drinking enough to get them drunk every night, or even a majority of nights out of the week, it is something to worry about... but having several drinks (which for a guy might be 7 beers) in a night out partying with friends once in a while is no big deal, as long as everyone is safe.

cuaphi · #3 03-11-2003, 01:41 PM

I happen to have read up on this lately and this is what I learned:

Alcohol abuse: A person regularly damaging themselves or others either physically or emotionally by their alcohol consumption.

Problem drinker: A person who continues to drink to escape problems brought on by their drinking.

Alcoholism: Physical dependency on alcohol. Warning signs include having blackouts when drinking, cravings or shakes.

You really can't put numbers on these things because it varies a lot from person to person. I do know that if none of these things sound like you then you're probably okay.

shopgirl · #4 03-11-2003, 02:11 PM

Thank you for your replies.

As I stated above, I'm not much of a drinker. However, I have a friend who drinks quite often. I think it's a problem. My boyfriend thinks this person is fine. Of course, my boyfriend used to party with the best of them. So, we go back and forth on the subject.
I thought I'd see what you all have to say. And you guys are right...you really can't put a number on this sort of thing. I would say based on your responses that this person is fine.

Thanks again.

MoxieGrrl · #5 03-11-2003, 03:22 PM

Problem drinking is seen as ever in your life having 5 or more drinks on one occasion. That is further subdivided into alcohol abuse or dependence. Abuse has about 6 different questions, and if you answer "yes" to one, you are considered to be suffering from alcohol abuse. Dependence is the same questions, along with physical symptoms, such as building a tolerance, having blackouts, or any kind of hangover/withdrawl.

It's scary how easy it is to code for one of these things. A lot of college students code for one of the two, even though most of them will not end up alcoholics. That's why we have a hard time finding college students to use in our study.

shopgirl · #6 03-11-2003, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MoxieGrrl
Problem drinking is seen as ever in your life having 5 or more drinks on one occasion. That is further subdivided into alcohol abuse or dependence. Abuse has about 6 different questions, and if you answer "yes" to one, you are considered to be suffering from alcohol abuse. Dependence is the same questions, along with physical symptoms, such as building a tolerance, having blackouts, or any kind of hangover/withdrawl.

It's scary how easy it is to code for one of these things. A lot of college students code for one of the two, even though most of them will not end up alcoholics. That's why we have a hard time finding college students to use in our study.

This is exactly what I am talking about. I read things like this, see it on t.v., research on the internet, etc. and came to the conclusion that drinking every night is not a good thing; not in the case of this person.

I just don't know.

Peaches-n-Cream · #7 03-11-2003, 06:34 PM

Binge drinking means more than 3 drinks for a woman and more than 4 for a man. I heard that on the news.

aephi alum · #8 03-11-2003, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MoxieGrrl
Problem drinking is seen as ever in your life having 5 or more drinks on one occasion.

I'm curious as to where this definition came from... ever in your entire life?? That seems a little harsh... so I will always be considered to have a drinking problem because I had a yard of beer for my 21st?? (Equivalent to 5 beers.)

I know that binge drinking is defined as 5+ drinks in one sitting for men, 4+ for women, at least once every two weeks.

KSigkid · #9 03-11-2003, 08:14 PM

I think a big problem is the fact that there are sooo many definitions about what is binge drinking, what is problem drinking, etc.

I'm not even sure what the accepted totals are anymore - different sources have different definitions.

Peaches-n-Cream · #10 03-11-2003, 08:33 PM

If drinking is having a negative impact on other aspects of life such as the ability to hold a job or maintain a relationship, then there is a problem. The amount of alcohol varies depending on gender, weight, and height.

MoxieGrrl · #11 03-11-2003, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
I'm curious as to where this definition came from... ever in your entire life?? That seems a little harsh... so I will always be considered to have a drinking problem because I had a yard of beer for my 21st?? (Equivalent to 5 beers.)

I know that binge drinking is defined as 5+ drinks in one sitting for men, 4+ for women, at least once every two weeks.

Yeah, ever in your entire life. I agree, it sucks. The definition comes from the SCID (Structured Clinical Interview Diagnostic exam). This is the diagnostic tool most often used in psychological assessments.

33girl · #12 03-11-2003, 10:36 PM

I think I remember that SCID test...that was probably the one our psych-major sister gave us and all of us, including the girl who never had more than one beer, were alcoholics.

College drinking is not regular drinking. Period. 99.9 of the people I knew in college who drank like fish are now leading perfectly normal lives.

I also think the binge drinking definitions are bull, because everyone's tolerance is so different. I really dislike the use of these terms, because they often become self-fulfilling prophecies.

If your friend is blacking out regularly, missing work/school because of drinking, or having problems with friends because of it, there's a problem. If they are simply having a couple beers every night to unwind, and never getting drunk, I don't think you should worry.

starang21 · #13 03-11-2003, 10:40 PM

you know that a creamy latte makes me farty and bloated. (jacobim mugato AKA jacob mookberg)

sororitygirl2 · #14 03-11-2003, 10:43 PM

It depends on the person. I know there is that 10 question test (Do you drink alone? Do you drink more than two drinks a night? Do you drink every day? etc...) but I think it just depends.

shopgirl · #15 03-11-2003, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl

If your friend is blacking out regularly, missing work/school because of drinking, or having problems with friends because of it, there's a problem. If they are simply having a couple beers every night to unwind, and never getting drunk, I don't think you should worry.

It's nothing like that at all. So technically there is no problem. I get caught up in all of those definitions, then I look at the situation and say to myself, "they are drinking too much...they must have a problem". Except, nothing is being effected by it. So I must be paranoid. I tend to over analyze.