It’s another day and another outing with friends. You work five days a week and are always busy, but somehow, you still find time to go out and get drinks most nights. The weekends are for parties, and the weekdays are for your favorite bars and a club every now and then. On the lighter days, you’ll go out to eat with a couple of friends and drink a few glasses of wine with dinner. It’s not enough to get you drunk anymore, so it’s fine, right?
The dark side is trying to push through the headaches and nausea at work the next day. On top of that, your money is slowly going down the drain to pay for your wild lifestyle. Maybe you’ve said some things while drunk that hurt a friend, and they haven’t treated you the same since. How can you be held responsible for that when you were drunk and don’t even remember it though, though?
Does this sound familiar? If it does, you’re not alone. 20% of people in Pinellas County self-reported themselves as excessive drinkers in 2020. At Tranquil Shores, we see plenty of people with alcohol use disorders at our facility. Our 3:1 client-to-therapist ratio ensures that they receive effective, personalized care. We also do more than just treat the substance use disorder. We teach clients life skills that they can practice once they leave us in order to live healthy, substance-free lives.
Maybe you aren’t there yet, though. Maybe you think you don’t need help, but are starting to wonder if your drinking patterns are out of control. It’s also possible you’re concerned about a loved one who comes home drunk far too often for your liking. Let’s talk about social drinking, and how it can turn into an alcohol use disorder.
What Is Social Alcoholism? Does That Really Exist?
Yes, it does! Alcohol use disorder, frequently called alcoholism, can come in many forms. Just because you drink with company doesn’t mean you’re excluded from the possibility of having an alcohol use disorder.
“Social alcoholism” is “social drinking” to the extreme. If you find yourself drinking most nights, especially heavily, and find yourself becoming dependent on alcohol, you may have an alcohol use disorder. Even though you don’t live the life of the “stereotypical alcoholic,” if you’re frequently drinking several alcoholic beverages a night and dealing with hangovers that interfere with your life, you may have an alcohol use disorder related to your social drinking.
What Is Social Drinking, Then? What’s the Difference?
Social drinking is when people drink in social situations. Many people that consider themselves “social drinkers” only drink in social situations, too. They won’t drink when they’re alone. Instead, they’ll drink at parties, or maybe crack a couple of beers open for the Tampa Bay football game.
There aren’t really any rules on what separates “regular social drinking” from a potential alcohol use disorder, which is what makes it tricky. Some say social drinking is acceptable for women if they have seven drinks spread out throughout the week or less, and acceptable for men if they have 14 drinks or less spread out throughout the week. In reality, the line between social drinking and an alcohol use disorder depends on each person.
Social drinkers often have limits for themselves. For example, they won’t drive while under the influence, won’t drink past a certain amount of drinks, will make sure they stay hydrated while drinking, and/or won’t drink with the intent to just get drunk. If you or a loved one are having issues setting those limits, it may be time to consider that social drinking as more than just social drinking. If your loved one is drinking a lot multiple times throughout the week, and often coming home drunk and/or experiencing hangovers that disrupt their life, they may have an alcohol use disorder.
What Are the Warning Signs of Social Alcoholism? Signs and Behaviors of a Social Alcoholic
The biggest sign of someone’s social drinking descending into an alcohol use disorder is an inability to set and follow limits for oneself. If you find yourself trying and failing to convince yourself to only have four drinks in one night, and you’re having frequent hangovers that are interfering with your life, that’s one sign.
Other signs are “pre-gaming,” or drinking before the social event, especially if it’s a significant amount of alcohol. Frequent blackouts, or forgetting chunks of time during the period you were drinking, are also a common issue with those with an alcohol use disorder. People with alcohol use disorder may feel dependent on alcohol to have a good time or numb unpleasant emotions, and may even feel physical withdrawal symptoms when they aren’t drinking alcohol.
Alcohol use disorders often come with a lot of shame, too. If you feel embarrassed about how much you drank the night before, and frequently vow to do better next time but often fail, you may very well have an alcohol use disorder.
How Social Alcoholism Is Different From Other Forms of Alcoholism
The main difference between social drinking that develops into an alcohol use disorder and traditional alcohol use disorders is that people with social alcohol use disorders usually don’t drink by themselves. Sometimes they may, and social drinking can certainly become drinking alone at home, but many don’t see their drinking habits as dangerous because they’re drinking around other people.
How Does Social Alcoholism Affect Health? The Same as Any Alcohol Use?
Social alcohol use disorder affects health in the same way any other alcohol use disorder does. It makes driving incredibly dangerous, and can impact the babies of pregnant women who drink. Mixing alcohol with certain medications in any capacity can have harmful effects, too. There’s also the possibility of engaging in risky behaviors that put your health at risk, like unprotected sex or dangerous stunts. There’s also the risk of alcohol poisoning with any excessive drinking. While it may be true that you’re more likely to get help if you’re with others when you get alcohol poisoning, it’s not worth risking it.
Long-term effects of alcohol on the body include higher risk of heart disease, cancer, a weak immune system, trouble with memory, and mental health conditions. In some ways, you could argue alcohol use disorders that develop from social drinking are even more dangerous than ones that don’t, because they can easily go unrecognized due to culture’s acceptance, and even encouragement, of social drinking.
When Social Drinking Hurts Your Social Life: How Does Social Alcoholism Affect Relationships?
Excessive social drinking doesn’t just impact bodily health, but also the health of relationships. While it may seem like going out to drink with friends is strengthening your bond, intoxication always runs the risk of causing social damage. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, and with lowered inhibitions, it’s far easier to say things without thinking, some of which may hurt your friends. You may not remember something impactful you did or said the day after drinking, but your friends might, and that can put strain on relationships, whether you did something positive or negative while drunk.
If you spend most of your free time drinking socially with your friends who love to party, it’s also easy to leave friends and family that abstain from alcohol behind.
Are You a Social Alcoholic?
Are alarm bells ringing in your head after reading all of this? Maybe that opening story sounded like you or someone you know, but reading further really hit home. Here are some additional examples of things to consider when asking yourself if social drinking has developed into an alcohol use disorder:
- Has there been a serious incident while you were drinking that has led to people no longer inviting you to events with alcohol?
- Do you drink alcohol for emotional reasons, whether it’s to cope or as a reward?
- Do you get defensive when others express concern about your drinking habits?
- Are you one of the last ones to stop drinking at social events?
- Do you have trouble adhering to limits on your drinking?
- Do you “pre-game” before the event has started?
- Do you feel guilty after a night of drinking?
- Are your relationships suffering due to your drinking?
- Are you worried you have a problem?
If you answered yes to any of these, it may be time to seek alcoholism treatment.
Getting Treatment for Social Alcoholism in Tampa, Florida
Your social drinking potentially devolving into an alcohol use disorder can be a lot to process, especially in a culture that often encourages social drinking. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, though, whether it’s you with the potential alcohol use disorder or a loved one. If you’re here and considering this, it’s already a great first step. We encourage you to take the next one.
At Tranquil Shores, we are committed to your recovery. Located right off the beach in Madeira Beach, Florida, our facility offers a calming place to heal from substance use disorders. Know you’re certainly not alone, and that we’re eager and able to help you through our in-depth therapy options. For more on what we offer, visit our website or call us at 727-391-7001 today.
FAQs
What does it mean to be a social drinker?
Social drinkers drink in social situations, often with friends. This may include drinking at parties, restaurants, bars, or clubs, and is often an activity people just see as a fun way to fit in.
What is an example of social drinking?
An example of social drinking would be attending a party, and deciding to take a beer when someone offers it to you. You’d know your limits, though, and only drink a few, and you wouldn’t drink at home by yourself.
How many drinks per week is a social drinker?
Anyone who engages in drinking in social situations but doesn’t drink at home is a social drinker. There’s no real set number of drinks that determines what exceeds social drinking and becomes alcohol misuse, because the effects of alcohol and what interferes in someone’s life is different for each person. Some say social drinking is 7 drinks or less spread out throughout the week for women, and 14 or less for men, with drinking exceeding that number being cause for concern.
