KNOW YOUR FRIENDS –
May 25, 2023 –
- Frequent binge drinking after daily responsibilities are taken care of
- Justifying drinking as a way of unwinding after work, a busy day with the kids, or as a reward
- Frequent intoxication and smelling of alcohol
- Loss of control around alcohol use
- Hiding alcohol in strange places such as the garage, at the office, in bushes or in the car
- Drinking between work times or appointments, or drinking just enough to keep their alcohol levels topped up
- Becoming irritable, anxious, restless and unable to sleep if unable to drink
- Regularly drinking in the morning or at odd times of the day such as lunchtime in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Always drinking at social events and ‘preloading’ prior to attending a social event
- Avoiding social events or activities that do not involve alcohol
- Alcohol has become a problem at home, with either drinking excessively alone at home or disappearing to a pub or bar straight after work for hours
- Becoming defensive or flippant when challenged over drinking
- Denial, and reasoning that you/they can still hold down a job or take the kids to school on time
- Alternating alcohol and prescription pills
- Becoming erratic, spontaneous, angry or changing character completely while intoxicated
- Difficulty in recalling events that took place whilst heavily intoxicated, or an ‘alcoholic blackout’
- Risk-taking, such as driving to work or the school run whilst still over the limit from the previous night or from taking a morning drink
