Does drinking a bottle of wine every night make you an alcoholic?

[LyraSilvertongue]

I ask because I was having a conversation about drink with a (male) colleague and he says he drinks a bottle a night. I was a bit . He's quite small, shorter than me, so the men can drink more thing doesn't really apply. Do you think he's addicted?

a lot of mners do drink a lot

i think it is the demopgraphic

i think its actually unproven whether drinking makes you an alcoholic

in that

you either have the propensity or not

And when I wrote: 'Do you think it's possible to drink this much simply because you like the taste of wine, or would you say it always points to underlying issues?'
I wasn't really referring to him, just people in general who drink a lot.

well i would say it doesnt point to underlying issues yes you can drink because you like the taste experience culture vibe etc

Maybe they just like the taste, the way some people like to eat a lot of food or smoke cigarettes.

obesitycoststoo

"far far less healthy"?

I think that's a leetle exaggeration based on an 'off-the-cuff' thread based on a casual conversation.

I really dont think Lyra is stalking him or taking notes

I do find it hard to see how anyone can like the taste of most wines and all beers/lagers. They are foul (unless mixed with copious amounts of lemonade!!!). Most people I've asked tell me "you get used to it". Why would you force yourself to get used to it? That's why I can't believe that for the majority - it's a taste thing. It's certainly not a thirst thing either, is it? If it's to relax you, it's a drug thing, isn't it? Maybe those who drink a bit also smoke? Maybe it impairs taste? If it's a hobby - what do you get out of it? Certainly no end result or 'product' of your time (apart from a high??), poorer health - it certainly doesnt improve health like other 'activities'.

I can best compare drinking such amounts of alcohol in the evening to thinking "i'll have a packet of crisps/bar of chocolate". Then thinking "that's nice, I'll have another". Then thinking "well, there's only one pack left in the cupboard, I might as well finish it". Surely most people would consider that kind of behaviour on a fairly regular basis, a bit, well, excessive, no?

I should point out, I am playing devil's advocate somewhat. That said, I do find it easy because I find alcohol utterly pointless in terms of refreshment, taste and effect. I'd rather drink water.

I think there is a fine line between drinking out of need- and drinking 'cos you like the taste! It is obvious that people drink cos they like the taste- or else why do it? But they like the effects too.

The real test perhaps is to ask- am I thinking about a drink, when I can't have one? Do I NEED a drink to relax or feel confident?

The way drink affects the body is slowly and insidiously- you might carry on for 30 or 40 years, feeling fine, then wham- fatty liver, cirrhosis etc etc- and too late.

alcohol is very carbohydrate so it does put weight on you

some people drink instead of eating of course

which is when things can definitely deteriorate so you can diet and drink and lose weight but it isnt very healthy

I think that being able to drink anything that's available just because it contains alcohol might be a good indicator to alcoholism. Even if you aren't too keen on the taste. I once knew someone that made wine - it was totally vile, even he admitted it, but drank it because it was cheap and it got him pissed.

Thank you VVVQV. I was feeling a bit at that comment.
Actually I do really like the taste of white wine. It's the perfect thing for a summer evening in the garden. I don't want to get to like it too much though.

Well, I do think it's unhealthy because it's just brought up by the OP time and again, his drinking.

I mean, so what?

It's not illegal. It's not affecting his performance.

It may or not affect his liver, but then there's a lot of behaviours we all engage in that can shorten our lives or cause health problems.

It just appears that so many of these threads are becoming so smug and preachy.

But of course, if someone started a similar one about food and overweight it would be hard to open due to the flames and heat coming off it.

i think most wine and beer does taste nice

it can also be a nervous habit to keep drinking in social situations especially if you have the drink in your hand

people drink because they enjoy it im sure..but enjoying it doesnt prevent you getting ill eventually

also a lot of people are addicts of all sorts of unlikely things

Expat. I repeat:

It's not so much a case of scrutinising him. He's a grown man, he can take care of himself and whether it's a problem for him or not is not my business.
I just thought it would be an interesting discussion in general. A lot of MNers seem to drink an awful lot. I'd never discuss this anywhere I thought he might see it (he has no children so is unlikely to come on MN).

And when I wrote: 'Do you think it's possible to drink this much simply because you like the taste of wine, or would you say it always points to underlying issues?'
I wasn't really referring to him, just people in general who drink a lot.

Any clearer?

of course smoking and drinking are very good partners

ex smokers who drink will always say alcohol is what leads them back to smoking

then why involve him in the coversation at all?

why not just leave him out entirely and ask, 'Does drinking a bottle of wine every night make you an alcoholic?'

some people said yes, some people said no.

long commutes in a car and smoking are good companions.

In the op, I said talking to my colleague about it had prompted me to ask. It just made me think of it, that's all.
Sheesh!
And the only reason I kept mentioning him is because people kept asking questions, like does he need to drink, which I can't answer as I'm just a colleague.
The thread isn't about him, it was just what got me thinking about the issue.

lol

If Lyra had just put 'do you think drinking a bottle of wine a night is too much/makes you an alcoholic' then teh very next post would be 'why do you ask? Are you drinking that much' so I do think the context for her musings is valid. It's not like a single bloke will be trawling MN and think hmmm...I work with a Lyra Silvertongue - she must mean me, dammit!

i think there needs to be a hard look at why British people, especially Scottish, drink the way they do.

what is it about their culture, their economy and the place they live in that fosters this?

what is behind the increase in women drinking?

that sort of thing.

the current approach: units, don't do it, shame it, hide it, make it more expensive, etc. is as unhealthy as things are now.

but i only bring to this my own experience of growing up in a sanctimonious, shame-based culture - where those strategies really haven't work. shame food - greatest obesity rates on the planet. shame sex - biggest producers of porn on the planet. shame substances - soaring drug use problems.

it doesn't work. there has to be another way.

And I think it is interesting. I think I drink too much and worry about it. It's also an important issue in terms of health and public purse. I don't think anyone has talked in terms of morals on this thread, unless I missed that bit.

And I think it is interesting. I think I drink too much and worry about it. It's also an important issue in terms of health and public purse. I don't think anyone has talked in terms of morals on this thread, unless I missed that bit.

i find the whole 'units' things very moralistic and unhealthy as an approach.

again, it smacks of counting calories and fat grams instead of enjoying everything in moderation.

I LOVE the taste of wine actually. There is nothing like it. Water's bland, juice is too sweet... I tried non-alcoholic wine when I was pregnant, but it tastes horrible!

Non-alcoholic wine? I hadn't realised there was such a thing.

I love the taste of wine myself. Always have.

Not beer so much, but ale is yummy.

Spirits, meh.