I'm 17 I have been drinking since I was about 15, my mother was an alcoholic and my dad also, as well as my grandparents and many of my uncles, I never binge drink or get too drunk, I only drink sensibly but from a young age I've been told that I'm going to be an alcoholic , I never really believed this but am starting to get very worried because I can see things starting to change with my attitude towards alcohol, I don't want to end up like my parents, but don't want to cut out alcohol completely because this is what I have seen my uncle do and it has tunred him into a horrible person, how do I know if I have a problem and if I do have I inherited it?

I don't know about inherited through genes, sorry... but maybe you drink because of learning it through your family. I come from a very big family. They all like to drink. I like too as well. Maybe it is just something that you are used to and makes you feel comfortable... but i would encourage you to stop...you are very young and i'm sure you don't want to head down a bad road

Yes it is, doesn't mean that you'll end up drinking but its just laying doement in you till you let loose and feed the monster that lies in him. Alcohol &Drugs they are all disease and if you keep feeding your addiction it will Robb you of everything important in your life, and remember don't think your only hurting yourself your hurting everyone you know. I didn't mean to sound so harsh but I am an addict and lost it all and trying hard now to get it back.
So go today talk to your doc or someone that know something about your local recovery clinics your are an alcoholic admitting it and saying it out loud to yourself is the first step... So please I beg of you get help didn't wait go today and let someone help you..

My thoughts will be with you

I know what you are saying but I don't really want to have to give up, I mean I enjoy alcohol I don't hurt anyone when I drink no one has said I have a problem and I don't feel like I have a problem I'm juts worried because of my family history..

Yes, alcohol can become a problem for you. It is hereditary. I understand not wanting to quit something that hasn't caused any trouble for you. Are there people around you who drink and have no hereditary alcoholism? Watch them, not your parents. A non-alcoholic has a totally different response to drinking.

Your uncle who quit drinking and became a horrible person is an alcoholic going through a dry drunk. Alcoholism is a dis-ease. When it isn't in your body, you don't feel okay. Unless the alcohol is replaced by something positive, the alcoholic feels un-easy, uncomfortable, angry, depressed, uptight, confused and the feelings are the "fault" of someone else. Actually, these feelings are caused by a lack of alcohol!

AA teaches people to take responsibility for their own feelings and not blame the people around them. It also helps members to learn that they are not in control of other people, places and things. You don't have to go. You don't have to do anyting you are not ready to do.

Alcoholics are very smart, many are gifted. Their bodies handle booze in a totally different way than the average person. Not only can they handle large amounts, they are smart enough to lead a functional life in spite of high intake. But alcohol is a liar, who wants you dead, make no mistake about it.