You’re out for a night of fun with friends and your one drink has turned into half a dozen. You don’t normally drink this much, just every once in a while so it’s fine…right? Determining when you should be concerned about your drinking habit can be surprisingly difficult.
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Social Drinker vs Problem Drinker
The line between social drinker vs problem drinker is much narrower than you might think. Plus, most people tend to underestimate how much they drink (both the amount in a single sitting and the frequency in which they indulge) so trying to analyze your own relationship with alcohol can be tricky.
What is a Social Drinker?
A social drinker is considered to be someone who primarily drinks on social occasions and does so in moderation. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has defined this threshold based on gender. For women, this means a maximum of 3 drinks in a single day but no more than 7 drinks total during a week. For men, who have greater alcohol tolerance, this threshold is no more than 4 drinks in a given day, with a maximum of 14 drinks in a single week. This type of drinking pattern is considered to be low-risk with a very low likelihood of leading to alcohol addiction.
These limits sound fairly reasonable, but those aren’t the only set of numbers that determine whether your drinking is high or low risk. It’s important to consider what a standard drink is. Drinking three pitchers of beer during one night is a vastly different amount of alcohol than drinking three cans worth. So when the NIAAA refers to a “drink”, they are referring to both set numbers of drinks and specific amounts per drink.
The Size of a Standard Drink
The size of a standard drink is determined by the alcohol content and is defined as a drink with 14 grams of pure alcohol. Naturally, the stronger the drink, the smaller the standard size will be. Your standard beer is about 5% alcohol. Wine is a bit stronger with an average of 12% alcohol content. Distilled spirits (gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, etc.) are some of the strongest with around 40% alcohol content. As such, the standard size of each will be:
- Beer: 12.5 fluid ounces (the size of the average beer can)
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces
- Spirits: 1.5 fluid ounces
Let’s revisit our earlier comparison. Using the standard drink size, a pitcher of beer is typically 32 ounces and the equivalent of slightly less than 3 cans of beer. Drinking three pitches would actually equate to about 8 cans of beer, putting the drinker well beyond the limits of what’s defined as social drinking.
How does your drinking compare when measured using standard drink sizes?
What is a Problem Drinker?
A problem drinker isn’t an official term or diagnosis. It is often used to describe drinking habits that have caused negative social, behavioral, financial or health consequences to a point where individuals feel the need (or are told) to cut back. Problem drinkers can self-correct whereas genuine alcoholics will find themselves both physically and mentally compelled to continue drinking heavily.
Drinking that falls under this category often falls in the realm of alcohol abuse, although it’s not necessarily always the case. Problematic drinking can include:
- Binge drinking (drinking enough more than 4-5 drinks in a given day)
- Extreme binge drinking (more than 8-10 drinks in a given day)
- Heavy drinking (binge drinking more than 5 or more days in a 30-day period)
Ultimately, what determines if someone is a problem drinker or not isn’t necessarily the health consequences of their drinking habit. Rather, it is their relationship with alcohol that is the most telling factor. The dysfunctionality of this relationship is primarily what separates problem drinking from alcohol use disorder.
Is Your Drinking Habit Problematic?
Alcohol consumption is so commonplace that our sense of “moderation” can be seriously skewed towards viewing excessive drinking as normal. Have you’ve found that your drinking habits might be a reason for concern? If so, it doesn’t automatically mean that you’re an alcoholic. Alcoholism is a literal addiction to alcohol where your body has developed both physical and psychological dependence.
One of the clearest signs that you might be an alcoholic is if you’ve tried to stop drinking but felt physically ill after doing so. Those aren’t hangover symptoms. They’re likely a sign of alcohol withdrawal and that you need help managing your drinking habit. Learn more about recognizing alcohol addiction and how to get treatment.
FAQs About Social Drinker vs Problem Drinker: What’s The Difference?
What is a social drinker?
A social drinker is someone who drinks alcohol only once in a while. They might have a drink at a party, a dinner, or a game with friends. For them, drinking is not a big deal, and it is not the main reason they go out. They can easily choose to have just one drink, or they can choose to have no drinks at all without feeling upset or left out.
What is a problem drinker?
A problem drinker is someone whose drinking causes trouble in their daily life. This trouble can happen at home with family, at school, or at a job. When looking at a social drinker vs problem drinker, the main difference is that a problem drinker continues to drink even when they know it is causing bad things to happen to their body, their mood, or their relationships.
How does control over alcohol differ between the two?
A social drinker is always in control of how much they drink. They can set a limit and stick to it easily. A problem drinker often loses control. They might start the night planning to have only one drink, but they find it very hard to stop once they begin. This loss of control is a major warning sign that a person’s relationship with alcohol is changing.
Can a problem drinker hide their habits?
Yes. A social drinker has no reason to hide their habits because they do not drink very much. A problem drinker might start to feel bad or ashamed about how much they are drinking. They might try to hide bottles, drink before they go out to meet friends, or lie about how many drinks they had. This secrecy is a big clue in the battle of social drinker vs problem drinker.
How do friends and family feel about each type?
Friends and family do not worry about a social drinker because that person acts normal and safe. But a problem drinker often makes the people who love them feel scared, sad, or angry. The drinker might miss important events, pick fights, or break promises because of alcohol. When loved ones start asking someone to slow down or stop, it is a sign of problem drinking.
Can a social drinker become a problem drinker?
Yes, it can happen over time. Someone might start out drinking only at parties, but then they begin using alcohol to hide from stress, sadness, or lonely feelings. When someone relies on a drink to cope with life, they cross the line from a social drinker vs problem drinker. If someone thinks they have a problem, talking to a doctor or a trusted counselor can help them get back on track.