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John H[_2_]

On Sat, 28 Oct 2017 01:20:09 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 27 Oct 2017 20:27:49 -0400, John H
wrote:

To me, the definition of an alcoholic is simple: If alcohol is causing a chronic problem and the
person continues to drink, then the person's an alcoholic.

I know exactly what you mean by 'binge drinker'.

There are several definitions of alcoholic, depending on who you talk
to.

I simply presented 'my' definition. It's not from any book I know of.

There are 10s of millions of high functioning alcoholics who drink
every day (one of the definitions) but still get to work every day,
perform OK and have no real drama in their life.
These people usually "ration" their intake but it is still a necessary
part of their life.

Does alcohol cause them a problem? If not, then they wouldn't fit my definition of alcoholic.

Another definition is the binge drinker who just can't stop once they
start and that may or may not end well but then they can lay off for
days or even months between binges.

If their binge drinking causes them a problem, and they continue binge drinking, then they'd fit my
definition. If they get drunk, go home and sleep it off with no problem, then they wouldn't fit my
definition.

Then you just have those people who let the alcohol drive their life
down (can't make it to work etc) and they are the ones you see
sleeping under bridges.

Fits my definition, but it doesn't take that serious a problem to fit my definition. To me, if
alcohol is causing marital problems, for example, and the person keeps drinking, then he's an
alcoholic.

I have known people in all 3 of those categories and usually other
drugs are involved.