I don't believe in alchoholism. I mean, I know that some people drink too much 'n all, but I don't believe in alchoholism. What does that mean? Well, the notion is that either you are an alchoholic or you aren't. And I don't buy into a categorical difference, I think that people drink more or less to cope with more or less problems.

The DSM doesn't believe in alchoholism, either. It does believe in 'tolerance' 'addiction' and 'withdrawal', however. These are OBJECTIVE phenomenon and you can as a matter of fact have tolerance, addiction, and / or withdrawal whether you think you are having it or not.

The standard line on 'alchoholism' is that you can indeed be an alchoholic that is in denial of your alchoholism. People often put this on themselves as when they say 'I was born an alchoholic and I was an alchololic before I learned to talk!'. Apparently, one doesn't even need to drink to be an alcoholic as one can be born with the disease even though one has never had a drink in ones life. And people can indeed be alchoholics even when the person themselves says they are not - as when someone leaves AA.

I don't like the baggage that comes with the term 'alchoholism'. So I go with the DSM.

If you think that drinking is causing a bit of a problem in your life and / or you would like to learn some alternative ways of coping with stuff going on in your life then reach out for help by all means.

I'd be wary of letting anyone give you the 'alchoholic' label though - remember it is an INCURABLE disease that can only be MANAGED - and you don't want your potential employers and health insurers to think you have that pre-existing condition now, do you?



What's the youngest age at which one could be considered an alcoholic?

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