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’m been drinking two glasses of wine each evening for a number of years. I water the wine down approx. 50/50 in an attempt to reduce my actual intake. The drinking tends to make me a bit slow, and non-responsive to my family, and I have also stopped evening sport classes. Every now and then, looking over the last few years it seems to be something like each 6 months, I drink wildly to excess and become quite aggressive. The aggression usually starts with some kind of argument/disagreement and my temper flares up, and I start to destroy objects around about. I have never become physically aggressive with other people, although I feel I have been very lucky in this respect because it seems I get blackouts occassionally, and I don’t recall everything I have done while quite so drunk. The thought of hurting innocent people while I’m in this state terrifies me. I think I need to stop drinking altogether, so it becomes impossible to drink too much at some arbitrary time in the future.
I’ve stopped smoking cold turkey some twenty odd years ago, and guess I have to do the same with drink, but my mind control does not seem to be what it was back then. I seem to be able to stop for a few days, and then “just the one”, then, after a few more days, “two is only one more than the one”… If anyone here has some hints on this score, I’d welcome them. Thanks.
Boredom drinker, Depressed drinker, De-stress drinker, Borderline dependent all in that order thats how i started drinking to much
I am more into Tea and dunking Ginger Nut biscuits now
Good for you, I can’t seem to help getting four drinks in so I don’t have a second to think about how much i’ve fucked up by the age of 22.
think that is the wrong page to share my problem; but anyways…thank you for being out there
love to all of you Andrea
every type probably except for conformist and macho, and a few more besides….
I would say I am a conformist drinker but I am female and the definition is the usual sexist stereotype. Either that or there is another type of drinker that has been over looked. The one who conforms with a team mate. I am in a husband and wife team. We collude with each other. When I say I want to stop drinking my team mate sulks and of course, I conform and drink. He is my excuse not to stop.
Ok…The kind of drinker i am? To put it bluntley…I drink like it’s a cure for Alcoholism!!!!!!!!!!
I will probably do this till I get a brush with death.
The DT’s terrify me and i have almost no willpower. The only time i slow down is when fell like I am gonna collapse.I am a functioning drunk.
People no i am a serious drinker…But don’t know the gravity of my situation…yet.
So…type…It’s unfortunately not listed here.
Love to all of you…And never take this thing called alcohol for granted…it has patience and can slither it’s way into your soul!!
Wow, you sound so much like me. I don’t think I’m on the list either!
I do have to say though I don’t drink ‘as much’ as I used to. They say the standard drinks for a female are 1-2 glasses a day??? Well I could drink 1-2 bottles of wine a day and still function like a normal person :/
I’ve asked people who ‘supposedly’ know, if I’m an alcoholic and they say no. Yet, rarely a day goes by that I don’t drink – I might not get drunk EVERY time now but I still drink….?
I used to drink every day: one day to get blind drunk, one day to drink to try and ease the hangover, one day to tread the water and drink just enough to be somewhat drunk, and then the cycle repeated.
I now can go a day or so without drinking, but often when I do drink i still go completely overboard; usually knocking back at least 700ml-1L of Southern Comfort.
I wish I’d never started drinking – its such a shit!
This is so like me too….I drink near on a bottle of wine every night, I don’t feel drunk once I have finished, I can drink less some nights but some night sI will drink more and I don’t seem to be able to say I have had enough and stop til I pass out. I remember very little when I get drunk and I am sure my memory is getting really bad in general. I end up taking milk thistle, Vitamins and all other herbal stuff to counter act but I know I really need to cut down….I don’t want to completely stop, just be bale to drink in moderation. After 2 days of no alcohol I get psychological withdrawal, whether I have any physical I don’t know
Hi, I don’t feel like I fit into any of those catergories I usually only drink at weekends but I drink too much I know I do and wish I could cut down. I have very good intentions and think i’ll just have a couple but once I start i just don’t know when to stop! I feel like a weekend alcoholic
x
Hi, Started drinking socially over 20 years ago then graduated to drinking alone at home every night.I surpose I would now class myself as a depressive drinker.I get depressed drink and then get even more depressed ! I drink anything from 4-8 cans per night and wake up every morning feeling rough. I feel ashamed and totally disgusted with myself,that i have allowed drink to control my life. My husband isnt exactly surpportive. He just laughs and calls me an alcholic ! which i am. I usually only drink after 6pm it has become a terrible habit .
It is now affecting my health , my eyes are going a tinge of yellow and I feel like ive been kicked in the kidneys,but i know really it is my liver packing in.
Ive managed to always work but working shifts now,finishing very late some nights. Last saturday all shops were shut couldnt get my fix and i cried like a baby ! so i have decided to do a self detox this is my second day and feel like shit but desperately want to change my life kill or cure !
Wow when I read ur post its like I wrote it myself almost. I have got to stop my liver enzymes are elavated and they are going to run more tests monday. I have a 11 yr old and I dont know what he would do without me. I have to do something my health is getting bad. I hope the best for u and u find a way to beat this.
I’m a binge drinker. I might not drink for weeks, usually 3 or 4 but when I start I cant stop. the party would stay going for up to 3, 4 days for me until I’m so violently sick, cant eat, depressed, anxiety. IT has been a vicious cycle for me for a long time. Its like after a few weeks I forget I have a problem with drink and say Ill go out for a few. I found this site recently and think its fantastic, I will be on here alot over the next few months to help me in recovery as well as aa meetings. I hope some day I can have control ove my drinking, if I continued I would have had huge problems, hope this comment helps people with similar problems.
I drink every night, sometimes 2 bottles of wine, other times 10 or so beers
I just this minute found this site. I have to keep looking to see if there are more recent posts. Emma, I really understand where you are. I can easily drink two bottles of wine or 3 double vodka gimlets. It has to stop, and I am trying now!
If you want to converse more easily with other people with similar problems, we’ve got a free forum on this site.
I went through PTSD after 3 years of 24/7 on call in a traumatic situation. I began to drink 6-16 ounce lite beers a night most days to deal with the fear, then after I left the trauma went on I could not find work etc.. I had a few medical emergencies and my life began to fall apart. Now I am drinking much more and at times everyday…I am barely functioning, because I feel hopeless with my life and so many things are out of control.
I’m a 41 year old man that binge drinks,..I can go some weeks without a beer, but as far as I am concerned alcohol is drunk to make us feel different, and the more we drink, the more “different” we feel.
It has just messed up my relationship too.
I had some problems in my younger years and turned to different substances for solace.
I have those problems still, and they have slowly pulled me down.
I am currently living with my sister,( after having split from my partner in Germany and having to leave my job there) and I am also unemployed.
I am a fairly lucid, and intelligent with varying interests, but because of my core values, I suffer from my perceptions, my beliefs ( or lack of them) these manifest through stress and anxiety, and these negative feelings are “purged” ( momentarily) via the medium of alcohol.
This , of course, leads to further bouts of anxiety in that wonderful cyclical way of things!
What I would say to any youngster on here who is worried about their alcohol consumption, is to be honest and address the reasons why that need exists.
Being honest with ourselves is the first step on that road to recovery.
It’s not an easy road..but look around you!..there are many of us walking beside you.
I never drink during the week, and generally have my first drink weekly on a Friday after 6pm. Usually start with 8-10 beers and then onto scotch – half a bottle, unless there is more to be found.
I repeat for Saturday and then Sunday is recovery day and the week begins on Monday, waiting for another drink on Friday.
I have scared myself on occasion where there has been more drink in the house. If there were 2 bottles of scotch, I may get through 1 and half – no control once started!
I am 28 years of age and l have lost practically everything l have loved through alcohol, in general l am a good guy but when l start drinking, all is well then l drink excessively to the point of being aggressive and slightly violent. This is my dr jekhyll and mr hyde routine, for me l need to get this sorted once and for all as l fear my life will be over shortly if l dont, if there is anyone out there who has any advice are able to talk some please get in contact with me, l think l need all the help and advice l can get. I also hope those who are dealing with this addiction are smiling a little more …
David hi, I was in a relationship with a man who turned nasty when he was drunk, I also enjoy 2-3 glasses most nights, we had the worst 2 years together before I left him. I feel I drink a lot and am terrified that I will become like my ex, so I understand what you are saying. I knew a friend your age who stopped drinking completely… same reasons as yours, what he did is change his living situation: he found new friends who where non- drinkers, he found a fitness group that he attended most evenings and he started collecting teas. (i know it sounds daft, but it helped him so much!) He is now happily married and has 2 children, he is not drinking and his wife and him have left the place where he used to live his boosy lifestyle. ..I am thinking of loosing some of my heavy drinkers – friends.. as sad as it might be I don’t want to get any worse. I am also thinking about joining a dance class 3 days a week to get my mind of drinking. Good luck to you!!
Hi,
I opened up to my mother about my drinking problem.to my surprise , she was very supportive.she suggested that every time I want a drink,I write a list of dangers down ( such as falling over on my little dog and hurting him)…or losing my husband….im only sober a few hrs…but I intend to try it….
Some of the things I’ve read here make me think ‘I wish I only drank that much’. I’ve been drinking to excess for about 33 years. It started when my mum left – I was 16 – then my dad kicked me out. Drink was my friend. I moved 50 miles away for a ‘new start’ but that never happened. Life got worse and the drinking progressed to new levels. After 26 years I moved again to the Midlands, but again – the fresh start all went horribly wrong.
I have been lucky as a functioning alcoholic to have been with the same employer for 30 years, good salary and own home. But I have lost my car, many friends and my health. I used to win Triathlons, have done the Tough Guy several times, the London Marathon twice and a half Ironman.
I had a couple of days last year when I didn’t drink – and I had two seizures. One at home and the next day at work. I ended up in hospital and yet still that has not been enough to make me stop.
I have a loving boyfriend but he drinks to excess also. We have a regular pub and everyone there drinks to excess. I want to stop but then again I don’t. I have lost friends who were ‘healthy’ – didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, went to the gym etc – all died very young. it kind of makes me think ‘what’s the point’. I’m nearly 50 now and still alive after years of excessive drinking.
I wish there was some help. I went to AA years ago but it seemed like they had just swapped an addiction with alcohol to one with God – and I don’t believe in any God’s. So that’s me pretty much on my own and unable to stop. I wish someone would come up with a magical pill that would stop me drinking. But the reality is, I do drink, I can function to an acceptable level, and until I get some real health issues then I don’t suppose I will be scared into stopping any time soon.
Good luck to all out there who are making the strong and admirable decision to stop drinking. I wish you well and also wish I had half your willpower and determination.
Have just found this site and this forum. Along with so much else I have read today it so resonates with me. I am 60 and have been a drinker since my twenties. Only ever wine but every night. Have now graduated to two bottles a night as a result of excessive stress and I am finding my “Jekyll and Hyde” personas and it is terrifying me. I have struggled to stop for so long but never manage it. Always find an excuse by 5pm to go and get my ” friend” ( which is now 2) I have to get some control somehow….I really hope this site might be the breakthrough I need to the right kind of help for me. I certainly understand what everyone else has written. I hope you you are starting to make some headway with bringing alcohol to heel.
Some tips that have helped me.. making a list of all the reasons why i want to stop drinking eg. damaged relationships, health, productivity, work..mental health, remorse, guilt, lack of control, i could go on and on..
and a list of the benefits of stopping..being in control, no hangovers or sickness, weight loss, better relations, better appearance, not worrying about smelling of booze, always being able to drive.. feeling positive, good luck folks!