It can be hard to identify whether you suffer from a substance use disorder, but knowing the signs of alcoholism is a great place to start. Does drinking every weekend count? How much alcohol is too much? Do I need rehab for alcoholism? Today, we’re answering these questions and more to give you the symptoms and signs of alcoholism.
1. Binge Drinking is One of the Signs of Alcoholism
1. Binge Drinking is One of the Signs of Alcoholism
Sometimes, people deny displaying signs of alcoholism because they don’t drink everyday. And while daily drinking can be a red flag, it is not the only way to determine if you have an alcohol use disorder.
Binge drinking occurs when you only drink occasionally, maybe once or twice a week, but on those occasions you drink excessively. You might regularly vomit from drinking or drink until you pass out. In some cases, you might not even enjoy drinking, but you may find yourself binge drinking anyway. This is perhaps one of the biggest signs of alcoholism.
Note that binge drinking does not equal to alcohol use disorder. Younger drinkers with less experience often binge before developing a healthier, more sustainable relationship with alcohol. However, binge drinking can be classified as “problem drinking” that is unhealthy and may increase your risk of developing alcoholism.
2. Drinking Alcohol for the Wrong Reasons
2. Drinking Alcohol for the Wrong Reasons
When used in a healthy person without an addiction, alcohol can be a fun way to celebrate special occasions and make fun nights even better. However, when you find yourself drinking to distance yourself from emotional distress, you are abusing alcohol and drastically increasing your risk for developing alcoholism.
Drinking due to emotional pain is a common sign of many mental health disorders, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. For example, a person with depression might drink in an attempt to lessen their sadness. Not only does this not work, but relying on alcohol to cope with negative emotions often leads to co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, which require dual diagnosis treatment to properly handle.
3. Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
3. Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If going days without drinking makes you feel sick, you may be experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These happen when your body has become so used to the presence of alcohol that it cannot function properly without it. Withdrawals usually only become a problem after prolonged periods of heavy drinking, and the symptoms of withdrawals include:
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Delirium tremens
As you might imagine, many people have continued to drink solely to avoid these severe withdrawal symptoms. Like in cases of drug abuse, alcohol withdrawals require medical detox to ensure that you can stop drinking without risking your physical health.
4. Hiding & Drinking is Another of the Signs of Alcoholism
4. Hiding & Drinking is Another of the Signs of Alcoholism
If your friends or family members have expressed concern with your drinking habits, you might start hiding how much you drink. Stashing alcohol around your home or drinking alone and hiding empty bottles are both significant warning signs of alcoholism.
While you might not see it as a big deal, hiding how much alcohol you drink may be serious. Many people see alcohol as harmless, but alcohol and drug addictions work in similar ways, so it’s important to be wary against the warning signs of addiction. Substance abuse, in any form, can cause significant harm. And by hiding your drinking habits, you make it easier for addiction to develop and harder to get help.
Hiding your drinking could look like:
- Drinking alone so nobody will know that you’re drinking
- Lying about the last time you drank
- Lying about how much alcohol you drink in one session
- Hiding empty alcohol bottles so nobody will see them in the trash
If you notice yourself displaying any of these signs of alcoholism, you should seriously consider looking for professional addiction treatment. However, there is still one larger, more concrete sign of alcoholism.
5. Planning Sober Nights and Drinking Anyway
5. Planning Sober Nights and Drinking Anyway
If you’ve noticed that you’ve been engaging in unsafe drinking habits, you might plan to stay sober on certain nights of the week or for a length of time. But if you find it difficult to stop drinking even temporarily, that is a big red flag that you may have an alcohol use disorder.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines alcohol use disorder as, “a chronic relapsing brain disorder characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.” For that reason, being unable to stop drinking is perhaps the only symptom on this list that equates to a serious drinking problem.
You should not have difficulty stopping drinking. If you do, even if you can justify these problems as “just for fun” or “one-time things,” this is a serious sign of alcoholism, and it may be time to look at addiction treatment facilities in your area.
Video
Signs of Alcohol Addiction (Are you an alcoholic?)
11 signs of alcohol addiction (Alcohol Use Disorder) according to the DSM-V. Addiction specialist Amber Hollingsworth explains the official diagnostic criteria for alcohol addiction in an easy-to-understand way. Amber goes over all 11 signs of alcohol addiction with you, explains each one, and tells you how to score yourself. You can decide for yourself if you have an alcohol use disorder.
News Audio
News audio…
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling on Congress to require health warning labels that inform consumers about the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer.
Murthy released a new advisory detailing how drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing seven types of cancer.
“Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer behind tobacco and obesity,” Murthy, who will leave office later this month, told NPR. “Just to put this in perspective, alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year and 20,000 cancer deaths.”
FAQ
- What are common signs that drinking may be crossing from healthy use into alcoholism?
Key indicators include: drinking despite negative consequences, increasing tolerance, loss of control, neglecting responsibilities, and withdrawal symptoms. - How can I tell if I or someone I know needs professional help for drinking?
Look for repeated failure to reduce drinking, neglecting work or relationships, physical signs like trembling or weight changes, and persistent withdrawal discomfort—especially if these behaviors impair daily life. - What should I do next if I recognize these signs in myself?
Start by consulting a medical professional—especially before quitting cold turkey—since withdrawal can be medically dangerous. Then consider therapy, support groups, and personalized treatment plans. - Are there early-stage symptoms that might be less obvious?
Yes, early signs may include subtle increases in tolerance, drinking to cope emotionally, blackouts, or withdrawing from social activities to drink alone. - What role do physical signs play in identifying alcoholism?
Physical indicators—like facial redness, weight gain or loss, impaired coordination, slurred speech, and poor grooming—can signal advancing dependence, especially when coupled with emotional and behavioral red flags.
