(Adapted from “How to Help a Friend With a Drinking Problem” by The American College Health Association) 

In general, a person who is considered a moderate drinker does not drink every day and does not drink more than one drink per hour. A high-risk drinker is a person who drinks five or more alcoholic beverages (four or more if female) in one sitting. 

Below is a general listing of drinking habits of social and problem drinkers, and alcoholics. It is not necessary for a person to have every habit to fit into a category, and some students may have some habits that are not listed. However, this list can give you an idea of whether or not a student has a problem and how severe it is.

A social drinker typically:

• Drinks slowly (no fast gulping)
• Never drives after drinking
• Respects non-drinkers
• Knows and obeys laws related to drinking
• Knows when to stop drinking (does not drink to get drunk)
• Eats before or while drinking

A problem drinker typically:

• Drinks to get drunk
• Tries to solve problems by drinking
• Experiences personality changes, e.g., may become loud, angry, and/or violent, or silent, remote, and/or reclusive 
• Drinks when he or she should not, e.g., before driving or going to class or work
• Causes other problems- harms himself or herself, family, friends, and strangers
  

An alcoholic:

• Spends lots of time thinking about drinking and planning where and when to get the next drink
• Keeps bottles hidden for quick pick-me ups
• Starts drinking without conscious planning and loses awareness of the amount consumed
• Denies drinking
• Drinks alone
• Needs to drink before facing a stressful situation
• May have “blackouts”--cannot remember what he or she did while drinking although he or she may have appeared “normal” to people at the time
• Goes from having hangovers to more dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens (“DTs”), which can be fatal