What kind of drinkers are there

Related Stories. America Needs to Get Back to Facts. Already a print subscriber? Go here to link your subscription. Need help? Visit our Help Center. In an article for The Conversation , alcohol experts Emmanuel Kuntsche, the director of the centre for alcohol policy research at La Trobe university, and Sarah Callinan, a research fellow, write that there are four different types of drinkers, each drinking in expectation of a change in how they feel after they do.

The four motivations for drinking, say these experts, are enhancement, coping, social, and conformity.

People who drink for motives of enhancement actively want to feel drunk. They like that alcohol makes them more extroverted, impulsive, and aggressive, and enjoy taking risks. Many coping drinkers drink as a way to smother issues such as anxiety and depression — despite the fact that alcohol will make both worse longterm. They are not prone to extreme mood swings, fighting or being violent. At this point, family and friends may say something and may even try to put a certain set of limits on their drinking.

The social drinker has become an alcohol abuser, but still has a sense of control and is not yet an alcoholic. Unlike the social drinker or alcohol abuser, the alcoholic will experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit. These symptoms will vary from person to person, but in any case, they are physically, emotionally and mentally draining, and sometimes overwhelming. Once a person is an alcoholic, they usually will need to get help at a rehab to overcome their addiction.

From social drinker to alcohol abuser and then to alcoholic, each type of drinker is different. Most people will remain either completely abstinent or remain a social drinker, but for those who do end up becoming an alcohol abuser or alcoholic, they must understand how harmful and even deadly their consumption can be. The sooner you or your loved one gets help, the better the chances are of getting and staying sober which is why it is important to seek treatment at the first signs of addiction if possible.

Contact us today for a no obligation assessment and to see how we can help you. Click Here. Social Drinker, Alcohol Abuser or Alcoholic. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Print. Which describes you the best? Related Posts.