Is your drinking a problem? Four surprising signs to look out for

We all know alcohol is a toxin that messes with our brains. We understand it is calorific and can pile the weight on. Hangovers are no surprise, nor tiredness, interrupted sleep, the jitters or black moods the morning after. Yet when the tendency to drink more and more takes us to a darker place, the warning signs can be murky. We could be slipping into the alcoholic danger zone.

Dr Richard Piper, the chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, says: “Alcohol is a chemical that can bring about big changes in the complex functions of the human brain. When we drink alcohol, it triggers the release of other chemicals in the body that make us feel more content, less inhibited and not as sensitive to physical and emotional pain.

The signs you are developing a problematic relationship with alcohol are not always obvious.Credit: Getty Images

“The reality is that more than 10 million of us are drinking alcohol in a way that negatively impacts our health and wellbeing.”

The warning signs that your drinking is a problem

“We look at the whole spectrum and ask specific questions,” says Dr Niall Campbell, a psychiatrist and addiction consultant at The Priory in London, who focuses on four areas when dealing with alcohol-dependent patients: physical, mental, relationship and professional health.

“I ask: ‘Are the hangovers getting worse, are you falling over often, are you being secretive, do you feel ashamed, did you embarrass yourself at the office party, were you disciplined for that, are you calling in sick regularly, are you having more of a relationship with the bottle than with people?’ These are the sort of questions we can all ask ourselves.”

Campbell reveals he has noticed that since COVID, with many of us working from home, people are drinking more throughout the day. “There is no one around to witness this behaviour, which means a regular afternoon drink can build into a problem.”

He reveals the four ways to know if you’re in the alcoholic danger zone.

1. Your drinking is habitual

Dr Campbell believes that developing a negative relationship with alcohol isn’t always related to trauma.

“It can be habitual. You get into a pattern of drinking the same way every day: a glass of wine while cooking dinner, finishing off the bottle with the meal, a nightcap before bed. It can soon build. I recently had a female patient who was drinking on a daily basis from 10am until 3pm. It was always the same routine, and it was escalating. Her blood pressure was through the roof and that eventually scared her to do something about it.”

2. You use alcohol as an emotional crutch

Campbell regularly sees people using drink as a coping mechanism for stress – but “it definitely won’t help you manage well in a crisis”, he says.

Andrew Harvey, a counsellor and psychotherapist who specialises in alcohol and substance abuse, asks his clients: “When did you start using alcohol rather than enjoying alcohol?” In other words, is drinking there as a crutch to help you deal with the pressures of life?

Harvey says that shame often plays a part: “I’ve never met anyone who set out to have a problem with drink, but once it’s there, the avoidance, deception and self-loathing can manifest.”

And while all these signs that you are in the danger zone are a warning, often it’s others who notice what we can’t see in ourselves.

“Sometimes clients struggle to follow through with promises they make. For example, they might say they will restrict their drinking to weekends only, but then find themselves pouring a drink on Tuesday. Having this pointed out by others in a supportive, non-confrontational way can be helpful.”

It’s true that people often turn to alcohol when life throws them a curveball, Harvey agrees. “It’s the medicine for a lot of people’s pain. It numbs them for a while, but its relief is short-lived.”

3. You have more time on your hands

“In my experience as a therapist, I’ve seen unhealthy drinking habits accelerate after retirement,” says Harvey. “Every night is Friday night, you don’t need to get up for work the next day. Plus retirement can mean that people lose their status, confidence, focus; they’ve got time on their hands, they’re bored. Lifestyle change is hard for most of us.”

It’s a common misconception that having a problematic relationship with booze means you drink every day. Some can go for days, even weeks without indulging. “Dependence takes on many forms,” adds Harvey. “It doesn’t always present itself as hardcore daily excess.”

4. You veer towards situations where drinking is acceptable

In the lead-up to festivities, getting drunk is normalised. In fact, it’s revered; an integral part of the seasonal blowout. A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development stated that 26 per cent of British women indulged in “heavy episodic drinking” at least once a month, while 45 per cent of men were regularly bingeing.

“People with an unhealthy relationship with alcohol tend to veer towards situations where drinking is acceptable,” says Harvey.

Frequenting environments where excessive drinking is celebrated could be a sign you’re in the danger zone. Credit: Getty Images

Sir Ian Gilmore, a liver specialist and chair of the campaign group Alcohol Health Alliance UK, agrees there is too much bravado around heavy drinking.

“The burden on the [health system] isn’t the so-called alcoholics, it’s people in the middle of the drinking spectrum, because there are so many of them. It’s a myth that a glass of red wine a day does you good. In rough terms, if you stick to the recommendations of drinking no more than 14 units a week, your chances of dying of an alcohol-related disease is less than one in a hundred.

“Unfortunately, [during holiday periods] it’s more normal to get completely inebriated, put yourself in danger and then shrug it off as a bit of festive fun. The trouble is, when the parties are all over, there can be significant physical and mental repercussions on your health.”

The Telegraph, London

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