My DH has 2-3 drinks per night - is he an alcoholic?

[Anonymous]

My DH has 2-3 drinks per night. Mainly scotch. Sometimes martinis. Sometimes beer.

Is he an alcoholic?

He doesn't seem drunk. His behavior doesn't change at all, although he seems more relaxed. Is he an alcoholic, or can someone really have that much to drink per night and not be?

[Anonymous]

I hope that's possible. Otherwise, I, my husband and many of our friends and family that otherwise have no issues with alcohol are all alcoholics.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that makes him an alcoholic, but it might be drinking more than is healthy. Just like eating too many sweets, you can damage your body by drinking too much alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Is he dependent on the drinks for anything? Does his drinking create other problems?

[Anonymous]

No, he's fine. That's not an amount of drinking to cause alarm.... let it go and let him enjoy his drinks (especially if they are what allows him to relax).

[Anonymous]

Question is what would happen of booze were not available? Would there be withdrawal symptoms. If so, then possibly.

[Anonymous]

Maybe not now, but you will be. My parents had drinks every night when we were growing up, and I never noticed it. Thirty years later, they are functional alcoholics.

[Anonymous]

Seven nights a week? Does he "need" to do this every night? Like if you both had a school event to attend, would he still come home afterwards and have the 2-3 drinks. Or if you went out to dinner with friends and he was home with the kids, would he still be making 3 cocktails?

If you brought it up, what do you think his reaction would be? Do you think he'd get angry and defensive?

[Anonymous]

Yup

[Anonymous]

Not enough info. With just this information, I'd say no.

[Anonymous]

the fact that he doesn't seem drunk is concerning.

your body gets used to the alcohol the more you drink so high tolerance is a bad bad sign.

[Anonymous]

Someone in my family drinks every night (and day sometimes). Not hard liquor, usually wine to start out with (considers himself a minor wine expert) but often switches to gin in some form. Social get togethers involve alcohol or are considered unimportant. Never appears outwardly drunk but definitely is more at ease and sociable with a drink or two in him. Alcoholic?

[Anonymous]

If you drink liquor every night for years, then your body will become reliant on it. If you stop cold turkey, you will go thru withdrawal. Alcoholic.

[Anonymous]

If it doesn't impact his life, and he can go a day without it he isn't an alcoholic. But if he can't skip a day or it negatively impacts his life, he is an alcoholic.

[Anonymous]

I consider a glass or two of wine every night the much earned "cherry on top" of the day. It affects me not one bit not to have a drink, but if I'm just home, which I usually am, I have a drink or two. No issues.