Take an Alcohol Class if You are a Social Drinker

Are you a social drinker? How often do you drink with friends or family? Do you have a drinking problem?

All alcoholics are, or were, social drinkers. One of the enjoyable effects of alcohol is light buzz and the releasing of inhibition. But when does drinking socially develop into a drinking problem?

As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes I can assure you that drinking problems set in long before you are out on the street drinking Old English 800 out of a paper bag. It sets in way before you are drinking Jack and Coke on your couch every night. Alcoholism and drinking problems begin right in front of friends and family.

How many holiday parties did you attend? Did you binge drink (meaning have four or more alcoholic beverages per day) at any of these occasions? Did you not drink at any of these occasions?

Speaking from my own experience, I used to attend 5-10 parties every holiday season. It started off being company parties and one or two with friends and family. Then it became Hanukkah parties, Christmas parties, Kwanza parties and even Black Friday parties. I binge drank at every party other than company parties, and if alcohol was served I always had as many as I thought reasonably responsible one or two.

I would like to think that if I had taken an alcohol class in my early 20s it might have saved me time, money and health.