You hear it all the time: “Drink responsibly.” But what exactly does that mean?
Not driving while intoxicated is probably the first thing you think of, and that’s true. Beyond that, though, “responsible drinking” starts getting a little murky.
Were the 19% of West Virginians who binge drank in one month of 2022 drinking responsibly? Your answer is probably, “It depends.” If you’ve ever wondered, “How many drinks is too much?” There are some hard lines you can abide by.
We know a lot about alcohol and the circumstances excessive drinking can create at Hope for Tomorrow. Let’s cover what qualifies as “excessive drinking” so if you choose to drink, you’ll know you’re doing it as safely as possible.
You may think this answer is obvious, but it’s not! Sure, it’s clear that a bottle of beer or a glass of wine is a drink, but what about a shot of tequila? Because the amount of liquid is so minimal in a shot glass, it might not feel like an “actual drink.”
In the United States, one alcoholic drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. This evens out to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of distilled spirits. Perhaps unsurprisingly, standard beer bottles, wine glasses, and shot glasses hold this amount of liquid. That makes it a lot easier to keep track of how many drinks you’ve had in a night.
The answer to this question is ultimately a little subjective.
You could argue that any amount of alcohol is too much. Even light drinking increases cancer risk.
To fully understand what that means, we have to define light, moderate, and heavy drinking. See the chart below.
| Level of drinking | Drinks for women | Drinks for men |
|---|---|---|
| Light drinking | Less than 1 per day | Less than 2 per day |
| Moderate drinking | 1 per day | 2 per day |
| Heavy drinking | 8 or more per week | 15 or more per week |
| Binge drinking | 4 or more in 2 hours | 5 or more in 2 hours |
It’s important to note that both heavy drinking and binge drinking are considered “excessive alcohol use” by the CDC. Underage drinking and drinking while pregnant are, too. If you fall under the category of drinking excessively, especially if it happens often, you can probably consider that “too much.”
Some people don’t, though. What you really need to consider is the impact your drinking habits are having on your health and relationships. If they’re causing harm, then that’s too much alcohol. Heart disease, liver disease, stroke, high blood pressure, digestive issues, mental health conditions, and more can all result from chronic excessive drinking. Developing an alcohol use disorder is also always a concern. If any of these conditions apply to you, it’s important to significantly cut down on your alcohol intake – or better yet, quit drinking altogether.
This is also subjective to some degree and depends on the situation.
For example, if you’re at a party surrounded by responsible friends who haven’t had anything to drink, you can probably safely drink a bit more. On the other hand, if you’re supposed to be the designated driver for the night, any alcohol is too much.
Of course, the first example rarely happens, so it’s not the best standard. Instead, think about whether your alcohol intake falls under the binge drinking category above. If it does, it’s a good idea to stop drinking for the night.
You can also keep in mind that your liver processes about one drink per hour. If you’re drinking at a much faster rate than your liver can handle, slow down or cut yourself off.
You also always need to be aware of the signs of alcohol poisoning. If you’re experiencing symptoms of alcohol poisoning, you must stop drinking and get help. Here are the signs to look for:
If you notice these signs in someone else, also get help right away. Don’t try to make the person vomit. If they need to lie down, lay them on their side to prevent choking. Try to keep them sitting up and awake if possible, and stay with them until help arrives.
As we mentioned before, it’s never a bad idea to avoid alcohol. Our society encourages alcohol consumption, but never feel bad for turning down a drink. It’s what’s best for your health, and anyone worth keeping in your life will respect your decision.
Otherwise, occasional light drinking is “safe” for many people. However, if any of these circumstances apply to you, it’s not:
When does “excessive alcohol use” become an alcohol use disorder? That’s not always an easy question to answer.
Thankfully, there are some other questions we can ask that will provide some clarity. Consider these:
If you can answer “yes” to two or more of those questions, your drinking habit might be an alcohol use disorder. The more questions that apply to you, the more important it is to get help. Remember, you’ll need to see a mental health professional to receive an official diagnosis because alcohol use disorder is a health condition. Just like any other health condition, it requires alcohol treatment.
It’s also important to know that even if you don’t answer “yes” to a lot of the questions above, it’s never a bad idea to get help if you’re concerned about your drinking. Relying on alcohol to have fun or unwind is an indication of a relationship with alcohol worth examining, too.
It isn’t easy to come to terms with the potential of having an alcohol use disorder. After all, drinking is fun – right? Your friends might encourage it, and you might wonder what you’ll do after a hard day if you can’t drink. Maybe you wonder what you can do at all if you can’t drink. Withdrawal symptoms are incredibly painful, and you might not remember what life was like before you had alcohol every day.
That is all undeniably hard to live with. We know very well how much recovery hurts before it heals. It’s far from all sunshine and rainbows, but it is worth it.
Picture this: no more hiding evidence of your drinking from your family. No more missed dance recitals or graduations due to hangovers or withdrawal. No more lapses in memory of important events due to the alcohol. No more outbursts while intoxicated that strain your relationships or arguments you can’t remember well enough to apologize for. No more constant concern over your health from your loved ones.
Recovery is worth it. Recovery is freedom. Recovery is taking your life back. You can start today.
Hope for Tomorrow is an addiction recovery center with locations in Point Pleasant and Beckley, WV. We are proud to serve every West Virginian in need – including you, if you’ll trust us with your care. It doesn’t matter if this will be your first time in treatment or your fiftieth. If you’re a veteran, a pregnant woman, someone with additional health complications, or anyone who has ever felt unwelcome and overlooked – we see you, and we’re here to help you. Everyone deserves recovery. Call us at 877-679-8162 today. We’d love to meet you.
Treatment today for a brighter tomorrow.
