What Is Social Drinking and How to Know When to Seek Help

Alcohol is a toxin — too much can damage your body and impact your health. Wiles echoed that drinking excessive amounts of lemon water could potentially damage tooth enamel. According what is social drinking to Science Direct, quality brands may contain amino acids and antioxidants, and ACV could have antidiabetic effects and help lower the levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDLs) in the blood.

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Other effects of alcohol may include improper liver function and cirrhosis, cancer of the mouth, throat, breast, liver, and esophagus, and a weakened immune system. A sudden change in life, such as a divorce, death, or job loss, can lead to excessive stress. Some people turn to alcohol as a way to cope with major life changes. If problem drinking was an issue in your home as you were growing up, you are at greater risk of developing a problem with alcohol. Some of these people may require some form of therapy or support to learn how to control their drinking.

Top social reasons people drink alcohol

There are different types of alcohol addiction treatment programs available today, including medication-assisted treatment. Depending on the severity of your alcohol use, you may need a medical detox to begin the journey to recovery. Although being a social drinker is accepted in society, it’s easy to slip into alcohol dependence over time. If you’re unable to stop drinking on your own, there is help available. Alcoholism, also known as alcohol addiction, is a disease that makes it very difficult for a person to stay sober. One of the biggest warning signs for alcoholism is trying to stop drinking without success.

  • If a social drinker is suffering from alcoholism, recovery means seeking treatment for alcoholism.
  • Social drinking involves the consumption of alcohol in a social setting, often characterized by moderation and control.
  • This definition is helpful as a starting point, but it doesn’t tell us anything about how much alcohol a person is actually drinking.
  • In some countries, alcohol is even served at fast food places.

If you find yourself setting limits on how much you are going to drink, then passing those limits, it may be time to talk to a professional about your alcohol use. A person who’s drinking more than just socially is going to start making friends with others who like to drink as much as they do or even more. Being with others who engage in similar behavior makes you feel like you fit in. It helps you feel normal even though you’re doing something abnormal, and the friends in your new social circle don’t judge you for your excessive drinking. A study published in Psychological Science supports this theory.

You Don’t Have To Wait

The reality is that you won’t be able to escape social drinking because it’s all around you. However, alcoholism covers a spectrum and many people are “high-functioning alcoholics.” High-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together on the outside. On the inside, however, they’re dealing with physical and emotional issues from binge drinking. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ While many consider social drinking harmless, it can quickly develop into a harmful habit. Not only do some people end up drinking too much when socializing, but they may start drinking outside of social occasions. The occasional beer or cocktail after work or on your day off may quickly become a few drinks several nights a week.

Others can begin their addiction recoveries with day treatment in outpatient rehab. Professional treatment provides behavioral therapy and addiction counseling in individual and group therapy formats. You’ll meet others who understand what you’re going through, and your treatment team will help you build skills to prevent relapse.