SOME of us may admit that sometimes we drink more than we should.
But what happens when “sometimes” becomes “most of the time”? Last month, singer Adele, 35, told fans: “I stopped drinking maybe three and a half months ago. That’s boring.
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Adele has cut back on her drinking after admitting she was a ‘borderline alcoholic’Credit: Getty
“I was literally a borderline alcoholic for most of my twenties, but I really miss that.” This isn’t Adele’s first dry spell — it previously reportedly helped her lose No. 7.
But her relationship with drink has also seen her drink during quarantine, and she admitted to once drinking four bottles of wine before lunch.
Her experience might ring true for many alcoholics.
More than half of us drink every week, with one in ten drinking on five or more days, according to the latest NHS statistics from 2021.
READ MORE ABOUT QUITTING DRINKING
So what does alcohol addiction look like and are you at risk?
BEHAVIORS OF A BORDERLINE ALCOHOLICAL
dr. Dave Nichols, NHS GP and medical adviser to the MyHealthChecked website, tells Sun Health: “Many people know they sometimes drink too much, but many don’t know where the line is when it comes to problem drinking.
“Being a borderline alcoholic means you’re sitting dangerously close to the limit [of alcoholism].
“It describes a pattern of harmful drinking where you may have a drink, or several drinks, every day or regularly binge drink.
“Because they are harder to define, borderline alcoholics come in many forms and may experience more subtle presentations.”
dr. Nichols says borderline people are likely to do one or all of the following:
- Drink alcohol every day without thinking about it
- Regular drinking
- Only socialize where drinking is involved
- Drink regularly throughout the day
- They annoy you when others don’t drink
- Drink more than the NHS guidelines each month.
If you’re not sure if you’re drinking too much, count how many units you usually drink in a week.
The NHS recommends that you drink no more than 14 units spread over three days or more.
This is equal to six medium (175 ml) glasses of wine or six pints of four percent beer.
The term “borderline alcoholic” or even “alcoholic” is not used among health professionals.
The NHS defines risky drinking as 14 to 35 units a week for women and 14 to 50 units for men, while anything more than that is “harmful” drinking – a pattern of consumption that causes mental or physical harm.
SIGNS AND RISKS
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Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is when a person has an uncontrollable desire to drink
BORDERLINE alcoholics are at risk of falling into addiction. dr. Nichols says, “Although you may not yet have developed a physical dependence on this drinking pattern, you are at high risk of developing alcohol dependence.”
Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is when a person has an uncontrollable desire to drink.
Dr Nichols says: “Their body is addicted to alcohol.
“Alcoholics will usually develop physical and psychological symptoms if they stop drinking.”
There are some signs of problem drinking and Dr Nichols says: “Borderline drinkers can experience symptoms such as stomach aches, stress, anxiety, bad skin, sleep problems, irritability and higher blood pressure.
“They are early indicators that you need to significantly reduce your alcohol consumption.”
He adds: “The most common long-term physical effects of borderline alcoholism are abnormal liver function, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health problems, but these are often hidden diseases and patients are not aware of them until they are advanced.”
HOW TO REMEMBER
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See below for some initial tips on how to stop drinking. Credit: Getty
IF you meet the criteria of a borderline alcoholic, are worried about your drinking and need support, see your GP.
Once you stop drinking, you can expect more energy, better sleep, weight loss and better skin.
In the long term, you could see improvements in your finances, relationships and mental health, and a lower risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Here are some initial tips on how to quit smoking:
Get started: A sober event like Dry January gives you a goal to stick to.
It may be very difficult, but look at it as an opportunity to clarify how much your life is centered around drinking.
Sober socializing: Dr. Nichols suggests socializing without the temptation of booze.
He says: “A new exercise class, walking the dog, a movie or even a coffee shop are great ways to hang out with friends without drinking.”
You are not alone: thousands of people are in the same boat as you.
Following their journey and sharing your own can help, so look for local groups or communities on social media.
Dr Nichols says: “Just like Adele did, tell people about your journey so they understand and support you.”
Get inspired: Hearing others talk about their journey can help you feel more positive and accepting of yours.
The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women is eye-opening.
GET TO KNOW YOUR UNITS
GHOSTS
Single shot (ABV 40%): 1 unit
WINE, PROMOTION 12%
Small glass (125 ml): 1.5 units
Standard glass (175 ml): 2.1 units
Large glass (250 ml): 3 units
BEER/LAGER/CIDER
Bottle (330 ml, ABV 5%): 1.7 units
Can (440 ml, ABV 5.5%): 2.4 units
Pint of lower strength (ABV 3.6%): 2 units
Pint of higher strength (ABV 5.2%): 3 units
REDUCING ALCOHOL GAVE ME ENERGY
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Vanessa Chalmers from the Sun Health team took part in Sober October, lost weight, saved money and had a lot more energy while abstaining from booze
VANESSA CHALMERS, one of the Sun Health team, participated in Sober October.
The 28-year-old, above, says: “I was going through a stressful time and I wanted to eliminate the cause.
“I chose alcohol and it wasn’t easy, because I drank about 14 units, or just over a week.
“But it added about 1,000 calories to my diet every week.”
Vanessa received two health assessments at Bupa Health Clinics to compare her vital signs before and after sobering up.
The clinic did an extensive test of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, weight and body fat percentage.
He also checked the heart rate for any abnormalities, hemoglobin levels for iron deficiency and blood sugar levels, to assess the risk of diabetes.
Vanessa says: “My cholesterol was already healthy, but it has dropped even further.
“My triglycerides – a type of fat in the blood that increases with drinking – have decreased significantly, said the nurse.
“I only lost 2.2lb (1kg) but I felt fantastic, I was getting up early and going to the gym at weekends when I’d usually be hungover in bed with McDonald’s.
“The biggest improvements were in my energy levels, as I had previously asked my GP for nutrient deficiency tests as I was feeling very tired.
“I saved around £150 and learned a lot about my relationship with alcohol.
“It was easiest to cut back on evening drinks at home and meals out, which I hope to stick to, but unsurprisingly, hardest at the pub.”
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Source: HIS Education