How Can You Moderate Your Drinking?
Moderate drinking
One day, an individual comes to the conclusion that they can’t drink the way they used to and need to do something about it. This way of drinking will lead to an undesirable ending and they try to drink in moderation and control alcohol use in various ways.
By moderate alcohol consumption, as a rule, we mean a certain amount of alcohol, after which a person can potentially control their behavior, maintain coordination of movements, and speak clearly. At the same time, it should be noted right away that each person creates their own “measure”, due primarily to individual moral standards, common sense, physical features, etc.
If we talk about specific numbers, binge drinking is defined as more than three drinks consumed on any given day or more than nine drinks per week for women and men over 65 or more than four drinks on any given day or more than twelve drinks per week for individuals aged 65 and younger. Binge drinking is also defined as four or more drinks in two hours for women and six or more drinks in two hours for men.
How a person tries to control alcohol use:
- Tries to drink less – tries to cut down on alcohol and drink in moderation
- Drink at a certain time – for example, intends not to drink during the day, but only in the evening after 6:00 pm
- Only drink on certain days – drink only on weekends, or only 2 times a week
- Switch to a weaker alcoholic beverage – for example, from vodka to beer, from cognac to wine, etc.
- Turn to a different kind of dependency – switching to another drug (smoking, marijuana, weed), or another type of addiction.
However, in the end, all attempts to cut down on alcohol and learn how to drink in moderation are useless. Therefore, a moderately drinking person sooner or later, after several unsuccessful attempts, returns to the usual dose of alcohol. Why?
Take back control of your life and start on the road to recovery now.
Can one drink in moderation?
Relying entirely on the observance of this moderate drinking measure is a misconception. It may seem to most that the measure has been established with common sense, caution, and prudence. Yet, one should also keep in mind relevant scientific medical knowledge about the nature of alcohol, its properties, and its influence on humans.
Unfortunately, not everyone takes into account that alcohol is highly addictive. Over time, with a stable use of alcohol, in order to achieve a state of light intoxication, a person gradually increases their usual dose of alcohol. It is impossible to bypass or avoid this, as one cannot contradict the natural biological laws of the influence of alcohol on the human body. Therefore, drinking alcohol, a narcotic and toxic substance, and claiming that one can learn how to drink in moderation is nothing more than a common delusion of life, and from a scientific point of view, impossible.
Well-known researchers of the problem of alcoholism agree that the transition from moderate to excessive consumption (abuse) of alcohol is inevitable. Everyone, without exception, who suffers from a painful addiction to alcohol and alcoholism has certainly gone through the stage of ability to drink in moderation, but even in the midst of their destructive passion, most alcoholics continue to hide behind moderation, deceiving themselves and others.
Moderate drinking and alcoholism
Can an alcoholic ever drink again? Drinking in moderation or drinking less is not possible in this case because alcohol addiction is a loss of control over alcohol consumption and the amount of alcohol consumed. How can a person drink less if they lose the ability to control?
Sooner or later, one needs to come to the following conclusion: you need to stop drinking completely, without any temptations to start drinking in moderation or start drinking later. Any alcohol consumption will actively support addiction and be a trigger for a return to the old life. In fact, the condition can be even worse.
Some people, for objective reasons, cannot immediately give up alcohol completely. One should not firmly insist on complete abstinence. Most people with alcohol problems do not want to be treated for alcoholism for one simple reason: to agree to this means to admit that you are an alcoholic! Another stopping factor is the fear of inability to drink at least occasionally.
During the period when an individual tries to drink in moderation, a trusting attitude towards the doctor or another specialist is being formed, which helps to understand the problem and possibly reduce the amount of alcohol consumed and to establish some control overconsumption. The process of forming understanding is stretched over time. Gradually, the patient comes to the conclusion that they are unable to drink in moderation and alcohol must be completely abandoned.
About Author
