Am I an alcoholic?

[Junger]

Hey guys. As I write this, I am finishing my 6th glass of red wine. Not a full glass each time but enough to give me a good buzz. At this point I am very buzzed if not drunk. My question to you all is how much is too much? I have alcoholism in my family but I usually hate the taste. I have recently found red wine, which I find very delicious, well some of it anyway, and have been drinking 1-2 glasses a night. I am not sure if this qualifies as alcoholism but I have nearly finished an entire bottle to myself tonight. I don't every drink and drive and I only drink when I have nothing important to do so it isn't a careless thing or even anything out of boredom.

What damage could I be doing to my body by doing this. Keep in mind, I only usually drink 1-2 glasses a night. I have some friends who are alcoholics, who can finish an entire handle of vodka to themselves. But I talked to my mom the other day proclaiming that it was "red wine, not vodka" and she told me all alcohol is the same. Addiction is addiction. Should I be worried? I have good self control but I like the taste/buzz of red wine.

What do you guys think? If I should cut back, tell me. I will.

Thanks.

[carstunts]

Sounds like you are just enjoying a couple drinks, perhaps to relax or whatever. If you think you have a problem, perhaps reduce your drinking to one glass per night. If possible drink every other night, it will make your alcohol last longer. I also hear that a glass of wine can be healthy for you as well. If you drink in moderation, then you'll be fine.

[macho biscuit]

here is the test to see if you are an alcoholic.

have a drink.

can you stop after one? if yes, you are not an alcoholic.

after one drink, do you need to keep drinking until you hit the floor? if the answer to this is yes, if you cannot have one drink and stop, you are an alcoholic.

pretty simple.

[Juan.Camaney]

What's so delicious to you about the wine? The buzz? The taste? The fact that you look like a smug homosexual?

Doctors recomend a glass or two of red wine a day. People in europe drink wine like it was water. Unless you are drinking to the point of getting ALL FUCKED UP and have a problem going to work because of hangovers and drink alone just to pass time, it sounds like you are alright. Your mother might be like that because she is over cautious due to alcoholism in your family.

[Nuts_]

Do you hide the fact you drink? Many people who have a problem do...
a couple of drinks on a night time is no big deal, if you have a problem, i think you'd know about it. and dont worry, you wont be doing your body a great deal of harm with just 2 glasses, its only when you start drinking 6 glasses EVERY, or almost every night that your immune system starts breaking down slightly. Research it on google or something if youre worried :)

[Anibal]

If you need to ask then your probably are not.

[jrmcg]

i think your mom is wrong. theres a lot of difference in wine and vodka. the alcohol content, for one. it would take a lot of wine to do the same damage as vodka. drink six glasses of absolut and try to coherently type us a msg. i dont think youre an alcoholic. how old are you?

[Devone16]

ok medical info from an alcohol and drug counselor. Simple way to tell if you have a problem with alcohol or anything for that matter, ask yourself these questions.

1) does it affect your occupation? (late for work, inability to focus)
2) does it affect your interpersonal relationships (ie people asking you to quit, loss of gf, drunk arguments with relatives or friends)
3) does it affect your leisure activities (rather drink than go to gym or can't go cause I'm hungover or drunk, no longer like to things that you normally do, can drive because I got a DUI)
4) is it affecting your health?

If you consistently have problems with any 2 of these, and you're asking people that you've never met if you have a problem, then the answer is probably yes.

keep in mind that the limits for what determines an alcoholic varies from person to person. There are a lot of other factors involves in this equation. You also have to determine amount of drinks per day, tolerance buildup, drinking to function normally, have you ever blacked out, and a liver functions test would also be good to see how much damage you've done to yourself. Just be careful... alcoholism if contagious and genetic.