Is My Social Drinking a Problem? 10 Warning Signs

Key Takeaways: 

• Social drinking becomes problematic when patterns cross into binge or heavy drinking, or when alcohol begins to impact memory, self-control, mood, or relationships.

• Warning signs include blackouts, hiding drinking, relying on alcohol for emotional relief or rewards, increasing tolerance, and being unable to cut back.

• “Pre-gaming,” taking drinking “breaks,” and feeling compelled to drink socially or alone may indicate the development of an alcohol use disorder.

• Professional treatment options—ranging from detox to outpatient care—can help individuals regain control and stop alcohol abuse from worsening.

Question: 

Is my social drinking a problem? 

Answer: 

Alcohol is widely accepted in social settings, but social drinking can quietly shift into problem drinking when consumption exceeds moderate guidelines. Many people believe that drinking only during events or weekends protects them from addiction risk, yet behaviors like binge drinking, frequent blackouts, and being unable to stop after one drink are strong indicators of an underlying issue. Emotional dependence—using alcohol to cope with stress, sadness, or boredom—is another significant red flag, as is hiding how much you drink, pre-gaming before events, or needing alcohol as a reward. Increasing tolerance, taking “breaks” to test control, or wondering whether you have a problem often signal that drinking habits are escalating.

What Is Social Drinking? 

Alcohol and socializing often go hand-in-hand in American culture. Alcohol is legal, which makes it a socially acceptable substance, even though it comes with great risk for abuse. You may have heard the term “social drinker” to describe a pattern of drinking. When someone says they’re a social drinker, they usually mean that they only drink alcohol during social occasions. This may include parties, events, sports games, and other social settings where alcohol is served, and other people drink as well.

Social drinkers don’t drink alone, and they drink in moderation when they do drink. They may drink one time a month, three times a month, or none depending on if the opportunity presents itself. While there’s no official definition of a social drinker, there are set guidelines by health and addiction experts as to what qualifies as moderate and safe alcohol consumption and what are problematic drinking patterns:

• Moderate Drinking: Up to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
• Binge Drinking – Four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men over a two-hour period.
• Heavy Drinking: More than three drinks a day or more than seven drinks a week for women. Four or more drinks a day or over 14 drinks per week for men.

If your “social drinking” fits the binge-drinking or heavy-drinking definitions, it’s time to take a closer look at your alcohol intake.

10 Signs Your Social Drinking Is a Problem

So maybe you overdo it from time to time — but you only drink on the weekends with friends or at parties and events, so it’s no problem, right? Just because you don’t drink everyday doesn’t mean you’re drinking habits aren’t problematic. In fact, in one year alone, nearly 14.5 million Americans’ drinking behaviors fit the diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder. Are you one of them? Here are some warning signs.

1. You Have Trouble Remembering Details

Do you sometimes find yourself nodding absentmindedly when people reference conversations or events that happened while you were drinking? That’s a blackout, and about half of drinkers experience them according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Research shows that the severity of blackouts vary by your individual make-up and that these alcohol-induced memory lapses can jumpstart long-term neurobiological abnormalities and psychiatric symptoms.

2. You Can’t Quit After a Couple Cocktails

You rarely, if ever have just one drink when you’re drinking alcohol. What’s the point if you’re not going to catch a good, steady buzz? And when you do set out to drink just one or two drinks, four or five drinks later your best intentions seem to always go awry.

Part of drinking responsibly is not having more than the recommended amount for moderate alcohol consumption. Research shows that alcohol abuse may impact neurons in the brain’s reward center that give the “go signal” to consume more after just one drink. This can make it feel near impossible to stick to moderate drinking once the gauntlet — or rather, goblet — has been thrown down if you’re a heavy drinker.

3. You’re Drowning Your Blues in Booze

Depression and addiction are inextricably linked. This is called co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis. Depressed people may drink to self-medicate their symptoms and people struggling with alcohol abuse can experience depression due to brain changes brought about by drinking. If you find yourself daydreaming about drinking to lift your mood, or the part you really like about social drinking is how it makes you feel better, it is time to take a closer look at why you’re using alcohol.

4. You Hide How Much You Drink

Being dishonest about how much you drink is a sure sign that social drinking has turned into problem drinking. If you tell friends or family you’ve only had one or two drinks when you’ve really had more, there is cause for concern. This is especially true if you’re engaging in risky behaviors like driving yourself or others after drinking more than you’re owning up to.

Another red light is if your social drinking extends beyond the event or gathering. For instance, if you come home and have a couple more cocktails by yourself or head to a bar for a few nightcaps after leaving the party. If any of these things are happening, take a step back and ask yourself why you feel the need to hide your alcohol use.