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

READ@TheSun