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A comment on Top 10% of American adults consume, on average, 74 alcoholic drinks per week. Parent comment

Re:Top 10% of American adults consume, on average, 74 alcoho... by MudAndGears on Thursday September 25, 2014 @05:45PM (#8369909)
Congratulations!

I was in the same position for most of my twenties. I did well at work, was in (mostly) good physical shape, and didn’t have any trouble rehearsing/gigging with my band. I really thought I just “liked to go out;” I’d drink when I had band practice or a gig (2-3 nights a week), then would go out on Friday and Saturday nights with my friends. That only left two nights a week to hang out with my girlfriend, so of course we’d go out to dinner or make something to eat at home and end up at a bar.

I honestly didn’t understand what denial was until I woke up one morning and realized I was an alcoholic. I quit drinking 6 years ago and could not be happier with my decision.

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Re:Top 10% of American adults consume, on average, 74 alcoho... by analyst74 on Thursday September 25, 2014 @06:18PM (#8370100)
Well, if drinking was not causing any problems for you in life, then the action itself cannot be a problem, no?

Isn't being a functioning alcoholic the same as, um, say, a foodie? or anyone with a dedicated hobby?

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Re:Top 10% of American adults consume, on average, 74 alcoho... by UVB-76 on Thursday September 25, 2014 @06:38PM (#8370211)
> Isn't being a functioning alcoholic the same as, um, say, a foodie? or anyone with a dedicated hobby?

Alcoholism tends to have a far more damaging long-term effect on a person's health than most other hobbies.

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Re:Top 10% of American adults consume, on average, 74 alcoho... by DanBC on Thursday September 25, 2014 @07:04PM (#8370319)
Being a "functioning alcoholic" means you are i) addicted to alcohol and thus likely to be drinking much more than is healthy. Long term heavy drinking is associated with a bunch of health risks (the obvious being cirrhosis and the less obvious being some cancers).

I guess it depends how you define "alcoholic".

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Re:Top 10% of American adults consume, on average, 74 alcoho... by plaguuuuuu on Thursday September 25, 2014 @09:23PM (#8370816)
"functional" is a low bar - impairment in memory and cognition creeps up on you, and it's possible to boil like a frog until the onset of liver failure and permanent neurological damage (eg delirium tremens) dispels that illusion.
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