I have read so many stories of alcohlics,mothers,fathers and even kids who binge drink.
Then there are those who party and drink (so called "social "drinkers).

As I have never tasted alcohol nor have any plans to try it,
I keep wondering...

Why do families drink in front of kids?
Especially when parents keep telling kids not to drink etc. Isn't this sending mixed signals to the children?

As some are very sure that they will not get addicted or become an alcoholic, what guarantee does anyone have that this will not happen one day if a person keeps drinking alcohol?

I know this maybe a touchy subject to some as it is accepted in most cultures to have that occasional drink,but I would like to hear your personal thoughts on this...


Thanks:)

You know what I grew up with an alcoholic he died when I was 21 I then made a living out of the trade and now I just don't drink I used to smoke but not any more.

It's a hard one its all very well having a civilised glass of wine with food but I've never wanted to just drink because I can guess that's what my dads drink problem taught me my sister on the other hand will happily have a gin and tonic to finish her day.

You can't class everyone that drinks as an alcoholic that's a extremely serious disease and it kills people I think the big thing is to know when you have had enough and stop and that's where alcoholics fail.

Does one need to be an alcoholic to have health problems because of drinking?

It is normally associated yes my father eventually stopped eating and just drank and the dr said well what's killing him is also keeping him alive she told him he could have 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years it was up to him 6 weeks later he was dead he ended up with major liver and kidney problems.
He really wasn't that nice a man to be honest he was a mental abuser never physical but he was mentally cruel and it was constant from the age of 11 to 21.

You do have to drink a heck of a lot mind you everyday to get in the state he was in it wasn't just the odd beer it was constant from 5am till 10 at night not just the couple in the evening I think there is definitely a line between social drinking and not being able to control your alcohol intake to being an alcoholic.

I love red wine with a good meal. I like going out for a beer at the pub with friends. Everything in moderation I say. One can abuse anything really. Some kill you faster than others.

So sorry to hear about how hard it must have been for you...
I cannot even imagine the toture for a girl of 11 years and up,to have gone through what you have.
In a way I guess your experience helps you to be a better mom for your daughter,especially if she grows up emulating you.

I have read somewhere that most mentally and physically abusive people have so much lacking in their character/persona that they use the abuse to hide their weaknesses.

About there being a line between social drinking and losing control,
I do not wish to touch a fire to see if it is hot because I know one day it may burn me... :eek:
But I guess you are right there are those who do the occasional drink.
For me personally it is part of my faith and belief,being commanded by my Creator not to drink alcohol as it does more bad then good and that is reason enough for me to stay away from it.:)

Like any other topic alcohol drinkers have different reasons for doing what they do, I used to drink myself when I was in high school because I was in a boarding school and others guys influence and boredom led me to start drinking but know I have a job and don't want to spend my money on alcohol.

Anyway, some people drink for the fun of it, others because they are addicted but there is a fine line between social drinkers and addicts.

Your right it has made me what I am today quite probablt a very hard person but I know the difference in many things that a normal person wouldn't even bat an eyelid at, it was no picnic but he is gone the suffering hasn't been there for over 10 years and I have no intention of ever putting my children through what he did us he had his reasons for drinking like he did but as with all alcohlics they have to ask for help or there's no helping them.

Does anyone else have stories of their own alcoholic problems which they have kicked, I wonder how it feels?

Thanks all for sharing..

I do occasionally drink a lot (to excess?) socially, but I have no dependence upon it.

I'm very confused by people who have never tried it and never wish to...

I also don't understand when people say it's a fine line between social drinking and alcoholism, that's simply not true.

Yes, while I am sometimes quite a heavy social drinker, I would never let a substance rule my life, and I can't see it happening.

I think there is a fine line where alcohol is used to deal with emotional stress, but social drinking is a completely different matter.

Only a person who has not actually lived and breathed through a true alcoholic would utter such a line.

I believe that one has a genetic predisposition to addiction. To say that social drinkers are all on their way to becoming alcoholics is preposterous. Usually some psychological or genetic factor needs to be present for that to happen.

So your saying the fact my father was a alcoholic that I too will also be one?? What absolute flipping rubbish.
Id rather sell the stuff and make money out of it than drink it anyday.

To be honest it's a distinct possibility should you face some adversity.

The studies are still not conclusive as to causality but they keep studying ti because they see a pattern.

The Genetics of Alcoholism

Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

Addiction and genetics - World Wide Addiction.com

I am one of those, and for me it is part of my faith and belief and its in obedience to my Creator that I refrain from it or any other form of addictive substance.:)
Not that it is hard to do it... I just never had the wish to try it.

Could be growing up in an alcohol free environment made it easy :)

Firm, what country do you live in?

Loz, obviously you will not become an alcoholic if you don't drink. But if you did start to do whatever your father did when he fell into it, you'll be at a higher risk of falling into it too than someone who doesn't have alcoholism in their family history.

That's just the way you're made and the probability that you have inherited some part of your father's predispositions, just like I have probably inherited some of my grandfather's predispositions to heart disease (although my dad hasn't showed anything yet, fingers crossed!).

Nk I would have to blooody drink to become one mate I went through merry hell as a kid and I can assure you I have no intention of going the same way there isn't even a bottle of wine in the house anymore its bought very occasionally when you sell as much as me and ben did you do go off it quite a lot.
Don't JUDGE ME especially when you have never been in my shoes go very careful what you are accusing me of and don't tie me with others there is a lot more scars than I will ever share here with utter judgemental straingers.