Three Kinds of Drinkers

People who drink because they like to.

Lots of people are called social drinkers. You will see them at parties or social gatherings, just enjoying a sip, talking and laughing, relaxing with their family, relatives or friends. Their use of alcohol is controllable and not habitual. When it comes to drinking, they can take it or leave it. They drink slowly and don’t usually get drunk. They absolutely know how to stop. They know when enough is enough.

People with attitude like this obviously don’t experience or struggle from alcohol addiction. They don’t need to stop drinking because, clearly, they can control their drinking behaviors.

On the other hand, people who drink like this are subject to develop a certain feeling of desire to drink again because they know they can control their drinking. They continue drinking because “what the heck, I can stop whenever I believe I need to stop”. With this, alcohol slowly penetrates in their system and the substance gradually makes its way to the top. Little by little, individuals with the “I-can-control-my-drinking-attitudes” are infiltrated by the addicting feature of alcohol. And because they are unaware of the situation, they tend to ignore their drinking patterns. They are apt to wake up one morning with the strong feeling of drinking again because they want to.

People who drink because they want to.

“Why a person becomes a problem drinker or alcoholic is still debated. Problem drinkers are those individuals whose use of alcohol interferes with their interpersonal relationships, health and well-being. They also put themselves and others in danger due to their risky behaviors, e.g., driving while under the influence.” (Well Informed, William B. Baun, 1997)

A person do have all the reasons to drink. He may be in the state of celebrating an occasion, stressed, depressed, or angry  to have a reason to drink. And once an individual, who used to have that “I-can-control-my-drinking-attitude” begins to have that sense of desire to drink alcohol to get drunk, he will eventually become a problem drinker. He will likely drink every night after work to satisfy his cravings of alcohol. He will possibly have to drink because he needs to. And with those constant drinking sessions, a kettle of fish will soon emerge on the scene. He will soon meet the lineup of effects of alcohol in his life, in general. Heath issues soon arise. Wrong decisions happen. Irresponsible acts immediately occur.

We need to make him realize the consequences alcohol may lead him. We need to make him understand the negative effects of alcohol. We need to tell him to quit alcohol before alcohol ruined everything in his life.

People who drink because they need to.

Alcoholics are individuals whose use of alcohol has gone out of control. When they take their first drink on any particular day, they cannot predict whether they will be able to stop before becoming drunk or passing out. They have developed a psychological, and sometimes a physical, dependence on alcohol. Alcoholics can suffer withdrawal symptoms such as DTs (delirium tremens) or severe alcohol poisoning. Both conditions can be fatal. (Well Informed, William B. Baun, 1997)

Alcoholics don’t acquire their addiction overnight. It takes time to pull down. Individuals who drink alcohol because of the perception they can stop at any time, have exposed themselves to the addictive substance enough to transform them to problem drinkers. Ignoring that condition will worsen the picture and those people will have to face the truth about alcohol addiction. They will become alcoholics and suffer the consequences.

It can be avoided by simply not starting. There will be no smoke without fire. We do not have to quit alcohol because obviously there’s nothing to quit from. You are very lucky if your taste buds have not yet encountered alcohol. Don’t start, and DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT DRINKING. And if you have just started, quit alcohol now, it may save you from further damages.

Image Credits: Occupy Fun