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b_b  ·  3970 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Cold Turkey Isn’t the Only Route

    You don't need to be an alcoholic to drink too much. My father was fond of saying that he wasn't an alcoholic because he didn't "drink to extinguish." Yeah, but you still have five beers at lunch so what's the difference, really?

Therein lies the problem. What is too much? I guess it depends on the individual. I certainly don't drink five beers at lunch. (I'd say I only have lunch beers once a month or so.) I also believe that what defines true alcoholism is motivation, as I think--contrary to popular belief--that addiction isn't a disease itself, but rather a symptom of some other disease (depression, anxiety, etc.). I have none of those; I just happen to really enjoy marinating a good buzz, and alcohol is my substance of choice. I think I only let people make me feel bad about it, because we live in such a tee-totaling rats' nest of a society. Puritans be damned. (But seriously, I know how fucked up drinking and driving is.)