How do you know your drinking is moving from moderate to heavy

A woman drinking alcohol.

Drinking alcohol is a common part of many of our lives. We turn to it in moments of celebration, in moments of mourning, in times where we want to catch up with friends, during dinner or even to kick back and relax.

For the most part, drinking moderately is perfectly fine and can be complemented with a healthy and balanced lifestyle. However, it’s very easy to let your drinking habits slip from moderate to heavy, often without you even realising. 

In contrast, heavy drinking can lead to significant health and lifestyle problems that can have a huge impact on all parts of our life. So, understanding if your drinking has shifted into heavier consumption is a must to put it right, whether that being more self aware or getting the help you need through the likes of alcohol rehab and support.

Understanding Moderate vs. Heavy Drinking

A good place to start is actually understanding the differences between moderate and heavy drinking. The Department of Health & Social Care states that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. This equates to roughly around six pints of beer or six medium glasses of wine. These should be split over multiple days, also.

Heavy drinking is drinking regularly beyond that, as well as engaging in binge drinking, and that can be a clear indicator that your drinking may be moving from moderate to heavy.

Increased Tolerance

If you are starting to drink more heavily, one of the signs you may notice is that you’ve an increased tolerance to alcohol. Essentially, if you’re finding you need to consume more to achieve the same effect you once felt from less, then that could be a warning sign.

Tolerance develops over time as your body becomes more accustomed to having alcohol in the system, therefore taking a longer period of time to experience the same levels of intoxication. This then sees people drink more to get the desired effect and a cycle of heavier drinking commences.

Drinking to Cope

Most of us have probably opened up a bottle of wine or have gone for a pint after a hard day at work. And while that’s ok on the odd occasion, if you feel like you’re turning to alcohol as a way to cope with stress, anxiety or any other form of emotional challenge, then it’s certainly a red flag.

Drinking to cope with negative emotions sees us become dependent on the substance. It’s an unhealthy coping mechanism that is related to heavy drinking and while it may solve matters in the short term, it’s only going to exacerbate problems in the long run.

Neglecting Responsibilities

As alcohol consumption increases, it often starts to interfere with your daily responsibilities. This can manifest in various ways, such as neglecting work, household chores, or family commitments due to hangovers or because you’re prioritising drinking over other activities. If you find yourself cancelling plans, calling in sick to work, or generally being less productive because of your drinking, this could be a sign that it’s becoming a problem.

Increased Frequency and Quantity

One of the clearest indicators that your drinking is moving from moderate to heavy is an increase in both the frequency and quantity of your alcohol intake. If you find yourself drinking every day or consuming more drinks each time you go out, it’s a sign that your drinking habits are escalating. Additionally, if you’ve noticed that you’re drinking earlier in the day or alone more frequently, these are also warning signs that your relationship with alcohol is changing.

Ignoring the Consequences

Another sign of heavy drinking is when you start to ignore or rationalise the negative consequences of your alcohol use. This could include continuing to drink despite experiencing health issues, such as frequent hangovers, sleep disturbances, or weight gain. It could also mean disregarding the impact your drinking has on your relationships, work performance, or financial situation. If you find yourself making excuses for your drinking or downplaying the problems it’s causing, it’s likely that your drinking has moved beyond moderation.

@washingtonbeerblog