What type of Drinker are you?
The Department of Health has released research where they have identified nine different types of person who drinks alcohol to excess (their definition of excess being double the recommended weekly amount or more).
It might be useful to see if you can recognise which type you are. The types they defined are -
- Depressed drinker
- De-stress drinker
- Re-bonding drinker
- Conformist drinker
- Community drinker
- Boredom drinker
- Macho drinker
- Hedonistic drinker
- Borderline dependent
It’s a fairly comprehensive list, but if you’re not sure which category you might fit into, have a look at the list of criteria for each type of drinker on the BBC
Of course it would seem to suggest that people who drink fall into one type or another, whereas experience would suggest that the same person could be defined under many of the categories, depending on what is going on for them that day.
i can see myself in all nine of those types of drinker. an alcoholic is an alcoholic with everything included at some time or another for me at least. oh ya, a female can act tough enough, given a few drinks.
I am a de stresser drinker, but it’s weird i have 4 drinks a night and I’m done. I have a limit. Doesn’t an alcoholic keep drinking until their out?
Yes and no………….If you look at it like this you will see wat i mean………..You drink 4 drinks to unwind wat ever and the next person has 1 drink every night but they have to have that 1 drink every night……..Do they have the same addiction……..Yes they do they need that 1 drink the same as you need 4………….4 is not to bad but it depends Wat it is………..4 pints not to bad but it will lead to 5 6 7 8 and so on unless your bloody strong ……….Sit in a pub and watch the old guy go home every night after 3 pints ask your self why can he go home after 3 pints but i have to have 4………He feels the same way as you………And a very important thing is to understand why you drink 1 or 4 or 24 in the first place……………You can stop drinking that bits easy but its why you drank in the first place or why you started to alow your body to relax with booze.Unless you address the problems you had before drinking you will go back on the booze that i can ashore you………..And you have 2 labels or maybe 3
Michelle, that is what i keep thinking, Do I need to Drink a bottle of Vodka everyday to be an alcoholic???
I think it’s up to you to decide…
I can drink between 4&5 cans of beer each night but no more, but I know I do need to drink that amount each night to relax.
I feel the time is right to stop, and I’m gauging it like the time I gave up smoking!!!
But where are the patches???
I’m depressed cuz im bored and stressed, i’m bored because I don’t conform enough or have strong enough bonds with community, the way I see it, if i prove i’m macho, girls will like me… i don’t actually know what hedonistic means but i’m sure i have that too… and yep borderline dependent, so i drink
i neva used to drink.now married work away,bored,no hobbies.i have the answers,dont know how to apply them to myself
I’m a boredom and depressed drinker, I use to drink every day but now it’s once a week, I drink that much that I black out and then get more depressed that I’v let myself down and everyone around me.
I am a bit of everything. First was introduced to alcohol at 14 and I am now 40 it’s a wonder i’m still here I think, I have taken milk thistle and kudzu and done my own liver function tests as I realise I have a massive problem but i cannot seem to be able to give up. Drinking is like a toxic triangle whatever your problems/reasons for drinking to excess are , drink alleviates them temporarily and you visit that fuzzy boozed up place where things dont seem so bad for a while, but when the effects wear off they the reasons/problems come back as they were just waiting it out. So you feel the urge to do it all again and like a fast spinning roundabout you just cant seem to get off.
Stella may i ask you do you drink to take away the withdrawals
IF those ‘nine types’ DO exist, then it would be nice to see the Dept of Health doing something about tailoring a counselling/therapy plan to suit the individual, rather than our GP’s shrugging and sending us all of to AA (which doesnt suit everybody).
I think even a social/normal drinker would identify with at least one of those ‘types’… how many ‘normal’ people out there have had a drink when they’re stressed??! This would mean that there only would be the tee-totallers left in the world who dont have a drinking problem!
Its ludicrous… and a crying shame that there isnt more help out there.
Yeah, it is frustrating to find something that fits, I am actually just trying to sort out the nature of my problem, I know there is one, but I don’t think AA is the right answer for me, there has got to be something else to try…
Yep, I’ve been all of them. Is that the lot?
Its crazy i drink now and then, but i binge like there is no tomorrow..I used to drink an awful lot but could stand up tall then suddenly i started feeling wasted and doing things i wouldnt do sober .Now i have craving and arguments with myself wether to pick up that bottle of wine or whatever..I hate anything being in control of me i push everyone away as i havent a soul i can trust to tell of my problem because wether you like it or not people use it against you if you have an addiction.
I am the very same as you are!!! hope I can stop xx Good luck x
I drink because i’m fun when i drink, i work with people and the group i socialise with drink. i drink because i’m fun, or i used to be… now i get drunk, slur, am incoherant and i can see in peoples faces that can socially drink ‘OH GOD HERE SHE GOES’ am i a alcoholic or can i control it???
there was a girl i knew once like this, we always knew there was going to be something going on if she came, sometimes we avoided asking her out. you will be the laughing stock and get a name for yourself, plus people will not respect you. nor will men.
by the way, you shouldn’t be more fun when you drink, you sound like you cannot be yourself if you are sober. its confidence, i never used to dance unless i was a bit tipsy…then i tried it one day i danced without drinking yes i felt dumb and felt like i couldn’t dance but nobody noticed and they werent watching me…it was all in my head…
I drink for few different reasons, and mostly i am happy and up beat. I recently discovered that i loose control when i had a few drinks. The tricky thing is it can go ether way, one night i am super cool, other nights i will get very drunk, and embarrass myself and my partner, not to mention don’t want to go home until well pissed. My partner is starting to get sick of it and i don’t blame him, i don’t know what to do with myself.
its not worth it hun, i was like this before. you sound very depressed, although 1 day you are an ok drinker the next you are not its a mood thing if you are not in a good mood do not go out, if you have had an argument do not go out, if you’re fine then by all means go out but drink lots of water in between drinks and switch from booze to cranberry juice in the evening.
I can’t help thinking we wouldn’t be posting here if we didn’t hava a serious drink problem.
I kid myself I can control my drinking, but when I’m honest with myself, I know I can’t.It’s all or nothing with me.
My thoughts are with you all x
Hi Caroline,
I totally agree with you, just went on this website out of desperation and dont want anyone to know my problem.
But am at the stage it is destroying my life, I would love to speak to you as you have the same views as me
Kay how has it been. Your post really got to my heart. I know its a few months since your post so keep hanging in there. Life throws us these curve balls and its how we deal with them that either makes us stronger or the opposite on the otherside. If you need someone I’ll be there.
I’ve just found out that my sister who has drank every evening for the past 30 years has liver cancer. I’ve been doing the same for about 15 years so I know its time for a check up and to stop drinking. I drink about a bottle of wine a night. It effects my weight, my appetite and my energy.
Chelle,
I am the same – drink every night racking up about 60 units a week. I am a GP Practice Manager and see correspondence every day about the effects of long term alcohol consumption. And yet still I continue because it helps me sleep, calms me down etc etc. Been doing this for over 10 years now and am in my late 30′s – I am convinced I am killing myself slowly. Really good luck with giving up – I have set Saturday as my last day and pray that I can stick to it.
I to have been drinking to de-stress most evenings.
Like you I have been doing this for far to long and would love to give this up but am at present having major problems with sleeping. Have a great deal to be anxious about at present and although im aware that drinking interferes with sleep, at the moment some is better than none.
My anxiety levels are extremely high and the only way to sleep is to have a few drinks. The doctor has given me sleeping pills but surely these will be addictive?
if its a sleep problem you have there are alternative medicines to try at most health shops. im wondering if you are using the drink as an excuse to cover up a bigger drink problem? im not judging, i too am a stress drinker, but as i said there are herbal treatments and a good cup of hot milk and a banana should send you to sleep. otherwise do not sleep for 1 night and you will sleep for a few days perfectly.
Be careful of herbal sleep remedies. If you are on any type of beta blocker or anti anxiety medicine then they can cause heart problems. Always check the lable
I too suffered the same and ended up at the doctors surgery. My heart was beating irregular and it continued for days. Only then I read the lable and found that my anti-anxiety medicine was conflicting with the sleep aid I bought from Holland and Barrett.
i have been going to AA for the past 7 weeks and would advise it strongly as i never thought i could get off drink, i even got through xmas and newyear when drink was all around me i dont even tink off it now.
Hi conor, am happy that AA has worked for you, but it hasn’t and won’t work for me. I’m a single,considered attractive mom and most of the pple there are men, I’ve tried 4 different AA groups in 4 different towns, on 2 different countries and its always the same, I leave because of the “attention” I get, I know this sounds conceited and blowing my own trumpet but it is the TRUTH and I SO hate it
the 12 step program has flaws in it, it does get down to the ROOT of the problem but I do see pple being helped by it. And congrats to everyone here for their honesty, I don’t feel so alone anymore, thankyou 
i drink when i’m stressed out, i used to drink a lot when i went out but it got to the point where i was coming home either on my knees or an ambulance had to pick me up from outside the club, it is embarrasing and makes people think so low of you. now i drink to de-stress its at home every 2 weeks or so with a glass of red wine but i have to say although i’ve stopped going out i still get very angry when i drink, and i know there is an underlying problem…my mum is an alcoholic and depressed, i had the most horrid childhood because of my mums alcoholism, now i know i can never do that to my son so thats what keeps me from bingeing and keeps me to just that 1-2 glasses and thats it. its a need i admit when i’m stressed its the first thing i want but as soon as immrelaxed i dont need anymore. there is a limit and you must listen to your body, its disgusting and i could never go down that route again.
Hi All,
I am new to this site and very glad to have found it!!
I am trying to give up drinking but im not sure if im going to be able to do it!
I am soooooooooo scared about how im going to feel…. will I be unwell?… Will I cope?…. How ill will I feel? Im not sure but im going to give it me best shot!
Best Wishes & Good Luck To All Of You Very Strong, Brave Lovely People xxxxx
Michelle xxx
Michelle… best of luck .. keep coming and get support here… the site is a bit confusing and keep forgetting where I posted my comment…maybe they did this purpose just to make you browse through all of the articles;))… Im on day 11 now … new too;)
I feel a lot better when I don,t drink, but I too seem to drink when I,m stressed. Ive had a problem for years, and have been to AA I also left because there were so many men there. I felt very vulnerable,perhaps because I live alone, and don,t want to be noticed. I think that a lot more women would go to AA meetings on a regular basis if there were more women attending. Also, some of the people there, although I know that their sobriety is the most important thing for them, are very pushy and in your face. I just keep going up and down with my drinking, sometimes staying siber for a few weeks, then I have a binge sometimes 3 or 4 days at a time. Then my body just tells me to stop, and I do. I don,t think I,ll ever be able to stop completely as this has been going on for so long!
Thank you to everyone I read through all your stories and they all sounded so familier. I woke this morning feeling so bad after a binge drink session with friends. I actually can’t remember saying goodbye. I really enjoy having a beer on a hot day or a glass of wine but socially it’s not acceptable to have one, your boring or not getting into the atmosphere. I’ve really scared myself and will take one day at a time and hopefully never have a blackout again.
i have just spent the last couple of hours typing up my feelings on the anxiety i get after binge drinking, but i have the same problem i am perceived as the life and soul of the party and the person who does all the entertaining because im more fun to go out with when i get drunk, to be honest when i stay sober and go out with my friends we are all home by midnight sometimes earlier, when i drink we are all out till 4 in the morning having the time of our lives, yet nobody else feels like i do for days after the stress of ‘oh my god what will ppl think’ what did i say, ‘did i make a show of myself , how the hell did i get home etc etc. i do feel better though knowing there are ppl out there who get it,
Wow, it is like you have just exactly described several of my weekend nights including my most recent Saturday nite! What pressure!!! I feel a bit trapped by this social group I have worked so hard to hold together sometimes – I’m the social butterfly who connected everyone and it seems like we only connect in the pub or at a night club… don’t know what to do, I am 30 and I feel like I am just getting a little old for this crap to still be going on. I wish you luck, I have recently discovered yoga, which helps a bit, but I have so much work to do!
i actually dont like the tast of it its the buzz i like it gives me confidence but i hate the hangovers ive lost girlfriends,jobs,friends the lot all down to drinking to much and being a donut! thats without the heartburn i suffer from its dredfull!! A good heaven wouid be one without drink!!!! just dropping 1 bootle at christmas and 1 botle on my birthday!!! haha
right there with you Paul. It feels so unfair to have this problem. Stopping the cravings with Camprol seems to be the only sure method for me.. I get wasted at least twice a week with blackouts. I have a daughter who is ten is the worst bit..and I honestly feel I can’t help it..because when the urge hits its all over..every damn time..
I have been binge drinking for 15 years. I really want to stop, but dont know how. People have an expectation that when they socialise with me Im fun… But I feel really low and self loathing the days after. I constantly black out and cant even remember going to bed. I NEED to stop I have young children and dont want to be drunk anymore
spend 1 night a month with your friends then spend the rest with your children your friends you can always get but your children look up to you….
I have a serious problem with alcohol, and I can’t remember how/why ?
With a beautiful wife, 2 beautiful girls, & my own business. My life to an outsider would seem ideal. However my best, and only friend: the only one who really understands me is my first bottle of wine (the second & third) just stupor me. Since 2008, I have detoxed 5 times, attended AA, always returning to my old ways a least a week after stopping. Last week I was caught drink driving and had a weekend of being in a stupor to forget my embrassment and self hate. On Monday decided enough had a nightmare 48hrs…….then began to feel slightly better. Then last night bought a quarter bottle of vodka got home took my alcohol dector test in front of my wife(bottle in the jacket) went upstairs drank it………..Then half a hour later demanded/pleaded she go and get my best friend. Today the old thoughts are back. I can’t speak to anyone but i feel better just typing this. I TOO DO NOT WANT A DRINK EVER AGAIN SO TODAY IS DAY 1
I dont know what to say but out of desperation I am writing this. I hate myself for drinking I hurt those people that love me so much away goes the beautiful radiant woman and out comes this ugly nasty person and thats both internally and externally. I say I dont want to drink but i cant get my self out of the grips of it because all i keep thinking is i need a drink. I dont drink for days then bang get hooked into it again and all i do is think where can i get my next drink. I just dont think i will ever get away from this i used to drink the alcohol now it drinks me
I don’t think I am an alcoholic, but I guess I am. I have drank for at least twenty years every night, ever since I got into wine. The first thing I do after taking my coat off is have a glass of rose or white while preparing dinner, this usually turns into 2 or 3 glasses. I then share a bottle of red with my husband on a bad night it is two bottles we share.
I am a stone overweight due to drinking wine as I eat very healthy. Sometimes I feel quite rough in the morning and swear to myself and sometimes my husband that I am going to stop drinking wine. He works nights two nights a week so does have a break from drinking, I don’t and he worries that it is bad for me.
I think my drinking is a bad habit, but it is so hard to stop. I never drink in the day except for Sundays when we have a drink with friends sometimes at lunchtime.
Last night I over did it a bit and felt awful this morning. I am going home tonight and will try to curb my drinking. I have bought some squash and I am going to try drinking that instead of my usual rose/white wine.
Wish me luck.
I drink because I can. I get drunk because I have no control anymore. 1 is never enough and 100 is way to many, but that never seems to stop me. I wake up somedays and have no desire to have a drink and other days I wake up wondering what the hell has gone on for the last few days. Anyone else feel like that. When I start, I just keep on going till I can’t have anymore. I guess I have a tendency to push things as far as they will go. This is not to say that the hazy recollections of my party times are always bad. When the weekend starts for example – good people, good food and good drink…good times. It always begins that way but long after everyone else stops (like days) I keep going, always looking for more adventure and excitment. At the time it’s happening it does feel exciting and adventuresome but that quickly turns to shame and embarassment when the sober memories begin floating back. I feel my disire to have “fun” is killing me and everyone around me.
Hey all… I’m writing this because I’m seriously frustrated about drinking. I’ve read a few posts on here that talk about not being able to stop drinking after that first drink. I call this my choo-choo train effect. I can never just have one drink. As soon I do, I keep drinking more and more, faster and faster, till I black-out and then pass out. Went to a concert last night with old friends, after promising my wife I would go to dinner with her dad today, and drank myself stupid as usual. So I’m at home with a terrible hangover and she had to explain to her dad I drank too much last night and can’t go. She’s justifiably pissed. this really opened my eyes that I have a problem. I never want to hurt those I love… But I couldn’t stop. I’m gonna try and kick the habit starting today… Just hoping I can hang on and its not just a case of the “ill never drink again” hangover blues.
For as long as i remenber i have always “liked” a drink, however 8 yrs ago when i split with my husband i started to drink a bottle of wine every night, eventually that lead to two bottles most nights, til i couldnt remember going to bed or who i spoke to on the phone that evening! Then every time i met a new partner i vowed not to drink like that anymore as it had cost me several relationships. Now i am due to get married again and my fiancee and i are having problems as i drink and he does very occasionly…I love him to bits but not sure if i love drink just as much! Do i have to choose???? Am i an alcoholic as i can go a while without a drink but as soon as i have one i want another
I look at my drinking (a bottle and 1/2 of wine every night to de-stress) in the same way as I do my ex 30 year 30 a day cigarette habit. It is an addiction, it didn’t start out like that but that is what it turned in to. I cannot cut down (I have tried many times) the only way is for me to give up alcohol completely, for good. However I know that just like the cigarettes I will try and fail many times before I do finally give up. I have learnt not to beat myself up constantly, not to think of myself as failure, but to accept that I am an addict, to keep trying and to be kind to myself. I will eventually stop for good.
I have read all the recent posts and as I am writing this I am weeping. I have finally admitted to myself and to my family that I a
an alchoholic (like they didn’t know). I have been drinking heavily for at least three years but it now affecting my ability to function normally. My work and my family are all affected and I am so ashamed. To all of you are taking the first step to stopping, please let me know how are doing and there anything our there which could help with the withdrawel symptoms. thanks
Hi Lesley,
Ive been drinking very heavy most of my life since I was a teenager. I am now in my forties. I have had blackouts, found sleeping in parking lots, etc. Ah….drinking is so much fun….lol. That was some of my extremes. The only thing I can tell you that your decision to quit is yours and yours only. No one can make you. Eventually, I became sick of my own self. As you can see it took quite a while. Quitting is very hard, but I tell myself if I want one that bad I know where the store is. I am at the two week mark. Xanax will help you sleep at night, most of the worst withdrawls are a few days. Good luck to you.