I don't drink a bottle a night but I wish I could. I drink about 3 bottles of red wine a week. I finish one in the night. Actually. I finish it in about 40 minutes. I don't like liqueur and I don't drink beer(only on occasions). I recently started drinking red wine and it makes me feel so relaxed and happy. Is that bad that all I can think about is drinking it now? I drink it in the night when everyone is sleeping. Its not getting in the way of my life. But does this mean I'm an alcoholic?

If you're sneaking it in the middle of the night, if you can't do without it, yes, I'd say you have a problem. There are a lot more factors, though, before you consider yourself an alcoholic.

I realize your mother is dying of cirrosis of the liver - you should not be drinking this much with that type of family history. I would think watching her suffer would discourage you.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/medica...ml#post1269932

You also have a 3-year old son. What happens if there's an emergency during the night and you've just finished a bottle of wine? https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dentis...th-231631.html

I've thought of this. That's why I'm worried. I'm worried cause I don't want to be an alcoholic. But my mom drank beer daily. And its not the same effects. When I drink a bottle of wine I don't get drunk. I'm relaxed and happy. I can run up the stairs and talk normal and I know what's going on completely. It just eases me and takes away stress. I do sneak it though. And I am worried about what it could turn into. But I'm not sure about wine. No one in my family ever drank it. Ive never heard of an alcohoic that drinks only wine. So that is why I am confused. I don't drink it every night. I would if I was alone though. But I'm capable of taking care of my son if any emergency happens. My concern is if its possible to be an alcoholic when drinking a bottle the way I do. Im just confused.

Oh just to clear the other thing up. My mom died on October 07 2008. And my son is 4 now. ;-)

You think you're happy and relaxed. Everyone who drinks thinks they are happy and relaxed, away from stress, able to run up the stairs, talk "normal," and know what's going on. That's why they drink and drive.

And, yes, alcoholics can just drink wine - or beer - or anything other alcoholic beverage of choice.

If you are sneaking to drink, if you don't sit down in front of your loved ones and drink a bottle of wine there is a reason - and the reason is undoubtedly that you think you drink too much. I enjoy a glass of wine. I drink it in front of other people. I don't hide somewhere so they can't see me.

Are you hiding the bottles in order to dispose of them? Another sign.

If you are drunk and there is an emergency and your child is harmed you will never forgive yourself and you could very well be criminally charged.

You also have an alcoholic mind set, whether you are an alcoholic or not, because you have asked for advice/opinons and responded with a whole list of reasons your drinking is not a problem.

I would suggest that you wake up before you screw up.

It definitely sounds as though you have a drinking problem to me.

When you are not drinking are you happy and relaxed? Or does that wait until you get half way through the bottle of wine?

If you are drinking to alter your mindset than your essentially drinking to get buzzed.Buzzed drinking is drunk drinking.

If you are drinking alone and hiding it you are not a social drinker.

The type of alcohol you drink is not important,wine beer or vodka,it's the result that is the same.

I think you have a problem and as with any addiction or dependency it can only escalate unless you stop it now.

Being aware of your drinking and the potential for abuse does not make you any less of a problem drinker.

Many alcoholics know they are alcoholics and many consider themselves functional alcoholics but that does not change the facts.

If you are having stress issues or problems that need addressing,I would suggest counseling.
I think you would benefit more from an anti depressant and talk therapy,than self medicating with wine.

EDIT: You never heard of winos? They drink only wine.

What if I drink 2 glasses of wine a day? Is that bad? I know they say one but I heard 2 is fine.
Thank you guys for answering. Im not sure if I'm taking it in but I'm glad I got some opinions. Im not trying to brush anyone off, I read everyone's opinion.
I know I come up with excuses or reason but its not to defend my actions, its to correct them if necessary. Im the type of person that think and thinks and I pointed out reasons for me drinking not to excuse it but to inform you guys of the details and to get more answers for the questions that I have.
I've only been drinking wine for the past 2 weeks. And I've only finished 4 bottles. I was worried cause of my family history I guess and I wrote on here because I've never heard of alcoholics that only drink wine. But I guess the question was answered. I am a drunk if I drink a bottle of wine a night. Not every night but it's the way I do it and the reasons I do it that make it an issue. But isn't that why people drink wine daily? To feel relaxed? Ive heard of people drinking up to 2 glasses a day and it being OK. But don't they drink it to feel relaxed and sleep good in night?

The red flags for me are :
Drinking to the point of being buzzed and not just for relaxation.
Hiding the drinking.
The POTENTIAL for abuse given the family history.

Thinking that you are A O.K. after consuming a bottle of wine is just buzzed thinking.

Many people think they can sing and dance and some fools are convinced they can drive.

You can't access your level of drunkenness when you are impaired.
You don't have to be stumbling and or hugging a toilet bowl to be drunk.

Perhaps the fact that you are aware of the potential for abuse will keep you from going down the wrong road but I still stand by my original statement.

It will. I don't want to be a drunk. I won't become that person. I just needed to hear that it wasn't OK. I want to be able to drink everyone once in a while without hearing feeling that I am a drunk. Cause I'm not. Before I started drinking this wine I only drank a few beers a year. Less then 6. But that fact that I enjoy drinking wine freaked me out. But I've never met anyone who drank wine so I just wasn't sure.

Thank you for commenting. I know its not OK now. Well I figured it wasn't, but just needed to make sure. Second opinions are great. I won't make it a habit.

The fact that you have taken the time to ask others opinion on your possible addiction points toward probable problem. If you drink to be "happy" you may be avoiding something that makes you feel another unhappy emotion. Take a good look and pinpoint when you "found" the desire to drink to be "happy". Maybe something in your life triggered this. Best wishes

I do the same thing and wonder if its too much... it makes me feel happy and relaxed. But I sometimes hide the bottles from my boyfriend because I feel like he might judge me... probably means it's a problem... but I don't know...

Yes, I would say there is a problem. I started drinking wine in response to stress I was experiencing while attending University part-time while working full-time in a demanding and stressful career. Wine was fun, it was culture, it was poetic, it was many things. It still is... I drink a bottle of wine a night and notice when I do, I am putting off my studies and other things requiring time better spent. I've noticed that wine produces a craving, a sense of luxury and relaxation that is ultimately expensive and draining of resources financially and health wise. I've put on weight and with that an increasing tolerance to the effects of alcohol which ultimately, leaves me unsatisfied with just one bottle. I used to smoke many years ago and quit after realizing 20 cigs was not enough, there was never enough, which I believe is the key indicator of addiction. My solutions then was to channel that desire into sports and meditation and yoga which captivated me for 18 years. I think too much focus on my career and education and long hours spent inert has created an imbalance in my lifestyle and I have to find ways to achieve equilibrium by making time for exercise, nature, and spiritual pursuits. This is my anecdote; I'm sure you will find yours and apply a suitable solution.

It's not a problem - people are abusing their bodies in much much worse ways. If you look back to victorian times they drank far far more than we do now - we're living in a sanitized society where everybody believes the media. Some people will die if they drink a bottle of wine a day, they'll get liver disease - others won't. It's the luck of the draw, and if drinking a bottle of wine a night makes you happy, then just do it! My dad was a cleaning living, hard working man, who spent his life lookng forward to and planning his retirement - cancer got him at 59 and he "celebrated" 60 in a coma before dying a month later. Forget the do-gooders, do what the hell you like - you've got one life so you spend it how you want.

The OP hasn't been back since October. This thread is pretty much closed.

I'm sorry about your father. I'm sure a medical professional will tell you that drinking a bottle of wine a day is not healthy - and it's not all a matter of the luck of the draw.

Heredity plays a part in many disease; it does not in others. Why increase the risks?

Also, the OP drinks at night, in the dark, when her family is asleep. I think that's a sign there's a problem. I realize you do not - but this board is all about opinions.

Yes. You are an alcoholic.
A bottle a night is too much--whether you hide it or not.

You may feel you are handling it because you've built up a high tolerance to alcohol and have become used to the impairment. That doesn't make you less of an alcoholic. It makes you more of one.

I think if you can't stick to one (1) glass a night, don't drink at all.

Hmmm... don't think most people know what they are talking about when it comes to drinking wine. By most American standards about 80% of all European adults would be classified as alcoholics. However, many live long and happy lives -- longer lives statistically than in the USA -- which in fact ranks about 17th -- pretty low in the western world. The question is culture and how you drink. Americans tend to be binge drinkers or simply drinkers who imbibe to get drunk. Americans go to bars to get drunk or high on booze. Many Europeans do that too.. so not excusing that... but most Europeans drink their 'wine" with meals outside of binge drinking, and usually lunch and dinner, and they tend to be drawn out events... fast food in not part of their cultural experience, however that is done as well. Bottom line, an American might take that bottle of wine and scarf it down in one or two hours, or less... someone else may take 6 or more during a whole evening thus allowing the body to ingest and absorb. That does make a difference, and the food you ingest with it as well. Food high in protein, olive oil and garlic will offset much of the negative effects, over time... not all of course... americans eat A LOT by comparison to most other cultures, in fact FAR too much, and we eat poorly from a nutritional point of view or in considering our wine intake. I would say from a wine plus the american diet combination, there is more of a chance of dying from over eating than from drinking too much wine. Wine is actually good for you -- to a point - especially those wines rich in Tannenen reds like Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. My grandmother was from Italy, she drank a bottle of wine a day most of her life, she died at 98 and she was fully in control of her mind and body, it just wore out... Now some would say maybe she could have lived to 101 if she didn't drink... okay whatever.