Alcohol

Alcohol is a social drug that affects people in different ways. Heavy drinkers and binge drinkers risk serious alcohol-related harm. For many adults, a drink after work, or with family and friends, is just part of socialising and relaxing. For others, one drink is never enough.

Symptoms of problem drinking

Drinking too much in one session (binge drinking) or drinking too much over time (alcohol misuse) can both lead to long-term health problems.

People who have alcoholism or alcohol abuse often:

• continue to drink, even when health, work, or family are being harmed.
• drink alone.
• become violent when drinking.
• are not able to control drinking - being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake.
• make excuses to drink.
• need to use alcohol on most days to get through the day.
• try to hide alcohol use.