Normal Drinking vs. Alcoholic Drinking
Let me begin by saying that if anyone is starting to read this with the hopes that it will "define" what normal drinking is or worse yet, give a road map of how to drink "normally," this is not that type of article.
I am going to quote some statistics and then give my opinions. Some of those opinions might give some guidance, simply because they are based on experience, but that's as far as this will go.
Alcohol is a drug that can have both positive and negative effects on the body and mind. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to a variety of health problems, including liver damage, cancer, and mental health problems.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines moderate drinking as no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
Alcoholic drinking is defined as drinking more than the moderate drinking guidelines. This can include binge drinking, which is defined as having four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in about two hours. It can also include heavy drinking, which is defined as having eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men.
The main difference between "normal drinking" and alcoholic drinking is the amount of alcohol consumed. People who drink "normally" can control their drinking and do not experience negative consequences. People who drink alcoholically are unable to control their drinking and may experience negative consequences, such as health problems, financial problems, or legal problems.
My opinion is that many people can have a few drinks or choose not have a few drinks. They can take it or leave it. They are also the same folks that can do those things and still get up in the morning and be a functioning member of society.
They go to work, they take care of their kids and they have healthy relationships. Yes, they may fall into the "binge" category on occasion, but that is the exception and not the rule.
On the other side, alcoholic drinking can have several negative consequences, including:
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How can I tell if my drinking is a problem?
This may be an unpopular opinion, but if you are asking that question, there is a good chance that your drinking is already a problem. To put it another way, you probably wouldn't try to figure out what to do about hair loss, if you weren't starting to lose your hair. That may not be the best example, but I'm going to run with it.
On a serious note, if you do have questions or concerns about your drinking there are steps that you can take. Talk to your doctor, a therapist, or a counselor. You can also reach out to a friend or family member that is in recovery or speak to a professional that has long-term sobriety.
One of the coolest things about people that are sober or in recovery is the lack of judgment. We have all been there and worst case, we can provide you with information, rather than labels. Personal stories rather than statistics. The action that you take after that is up to you, but at least you will be armed with some knowledge.?
Regardless of how you see yourself or how you may fit when it relates to your alcohol use, just remember that there is help out there if you need it.
If you or your business need assistance or guidance in any of these areas, we can help. We have the knowledge and experience needed to help you or your organization develop a plan and get that plan implemented.?
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