[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

So to cut it short... Where is the line drawn between alcoholism and drinking? Would drinking a glass of wine a night (but just one) to relax after work 5 nights a week be considered alcoholism? It seems a bit excessive (spelling?) but isn't a glass of wine a night supposedly good for your health?

So say you work 5 days a week and the days you work you get home and pour a glass of wine and sip on it throughout the night. Would this lead to alcoholism or is it ok?

What constitutes alcoholism?

I've decided to stop getting drunk. I didn't do it often, once every month or two months. But I don't want to give my daughter that impression of me, even though I only got drunk when she was with a sitter for the night, I just don't want to be like my parents. I don't want to be a drunk and quite frankly I'm tired of being exhausted the day after. But a glass of wine, and stopping at one glass, after stressful days at work, is that bad?

((((PFM)))) I think if you are concerned about a certain behavior then it's probably not worth doing. And if for nothing else, setting a good example for your daughter is paramount to giving her a good chance to succeed in life

[carrie_ann]

i voted no as folks get too hung up on what is socially acceptable!

[madisgram]

i voted yes. why? if you're concerned about being an alcoholic even one drink gets the wheel/obsession going again. one drink is not enough and a thousand are too many. i sincerely know tho i've been sober for 2 decades plus, if i were to pick up one drink right now i'd pick up right where i left OFF. NOT how my drinking was at first.
norm's can certainly imbibe because they hopefully drink responsibly.
BUT once an alcoholic always an alcoholic even without the booze. our "cure" is to not drink period.
a problem drinker can stay away from the stuff too but if not too often it might be ok.

becoming an alcoholic is like being on a train, destination unknown. we can get off at any stop but if we continue forward too long our last stop is a living HELL. no way out. no hope, no life. unless we get off at that stop and catch the next train going in the other direction towards freedom and sobriety.

[yellowted]

as long as you are not upsetting anyone, are not leaving your self short of cash for rent, bills food etc, are not a recovering alcoholic and do not find yourself craving it or waking up hungover then one small glass in the evening is in my opinion not excessive. it only becomes so when one leads to a second or third or a whole bottle!

I selected "depends" I don't think it's a set rule. Some may be able to handle that without becoming an alcoholic while others may not. If it becomes a habit (this is anything really) then it becomes worrisome. I think the "getting drunk" part is bad though if it were a regular thing. Not that I've never done that but it's very few and far between. You mention sipping on a wine and taking a long time to drink it. To me, maybe this is acceptable for you. I think if you're questioning it, that raises a flag though.