Hiding Alcohol: Signs & Dangers

Why Do People Hide Alcohol?

Hiding alcohol use and behaviors is really common for those who are silently struggling with something. Sometimes, what alcohol means to others isn’t what it appears to be. Alcohol can often be used to self-medicate other conditions and challenges people struggle with, and knowing the difference between drinking for enjoyment and socially versus drinking to cope with something is really important to know.

Hiding alcohol in terms of addiction and mental health is the big differentiator. Sometimes, people develop a dependence on alcohol after using it to self-medicate or cope and can find themselves drinking at odd hours of the day and night, which is atypical for them. There is sometimes a need to drink to the point of passing out or getting ill, and that is a big red flag of a possible addiction.

When this happens, this also reshapes our brain enough to make the pattern stronger and stronger, which is when addiction issues and trying to end the addiction become challenging. They may begin to hide their drinking to avoid the social consequences of drinking too much and may begin to think they don’t have a problem since no one can see it when it happens. That is when the addiction often takes over, and it can be challenging, but not impossible, to break out of.¹

Signs Someone Is Hiding Drinking

Sometimes, the signs that someone is hiding their drinking habits can be hard to identify because it is happening in secret. It’s really important to be aware of the baseline of that individual and pay attention to how they speak, when and what they talk about. Some of the signs that they are hiding their drinking is that they are drinking alone. For example, if you went over to a friend’s house last week and they had plenty of alcohol, and this week they are telling you they are out, they could be drinking heavily by themselves. If you question it, they may get defensive or lie about why they are out. If you notice irritable behaviors randomly, it could be an indication that they are in withdrawal, and when out with them, if you notice their tolerance has increased, it is an indication that they are drinking more often than just with you.

Dangers of Hiding Drinking

There are a lot of pitfalls to hiding dangerous behaviors and covering up behaviors you don’t want others to know. This can include behaviors around alcohol and drug use as well.

Dangers of someone hiding their drinking include:

• Alcohol poisoning and passing out alone, which can be life threatening
• Long-term organ damage
• Struggles with keeping jobs or commitments
• Increased anger and fighting
• Poor self-care and maintenance
• Tendency to withdraw or avoid social situations²

Common Places People Hide Alcohol

People have many different reasons why they hide their behaviors around alcohol, but they also have many different locations where they may stash and store their alcohol as well. Having alcohol readily available anywhere is an indicator of how often they drink alcohol and where they may drink it. indicator that they are drinking alcohol more often. Some people even turn to powdered alcohol because it’s so easy to conceal and even a watchful/concerned eye might not notice it’s presence.

Common places where people hide alcohol include:

Dresser Drawers

Dresser drawers are often the first place someone may hide sometimes as it is

socially unacceptable to snoop through someone’s intimate clothing. This is a common belief, and those who need or want to hide their alcohol can use this to cover up the amount of alcohol they may have in the house or consume.

Other Drink Containers

Storing alcohol in unsuspecting bottles is another common occurrence. Putting vodka

in a water bottle can look like water, mixing other liquors with soda and keeping it in the fridge can conceal the alcohol as well and make it appear like you are just drinking a soda.

Cars

Another common place to hide things is in cars. We spend a lot of time in cars,

driving to work, running errands, etc., and often come up with excuses to go to our cars. Storing alcohol in cars is an easy way to grab a quick drink when you step out to pick up something or if something was left in the car.

Bathrooms

In the bathroom, most of us have a ton of bottles and items that don’t often see the

light of day. Sometimes, those bottles stay there for years, making it easy to hide items behind. If no one is going to grab the items in the back, it’s unlikely they are going to look behind those items, making them ideal places to hide bottles of alcohol.

Bags or Purses

Hiding things in personal bags is another common place. Many people are private

about their purses in general, as it store their personal and sensitive information. However, it can also be an easy place to place a small bottle in if you know no one goes into your purse. If they are out anywhere, they can use the restroom and take their purse, and have a drink.

Luggage

This is another location that may seem random and unsuspecting. Unless you are

going on a trip, people generally don’t pull out luggage, making it an easy hiding spot to keep alcohol.

Attic, Garage, or Basement

Locations that don’t get a lot of foot traffic or usually only are visited for specific

reasons make it easy to find hiding spots. If most things are off-limits, knowing where and how much to hide can become very easy. A dusty corner behind a cabinet or in a box under old items no one looks at are a couple of places that it can be hidden.

At Work

Hiding alcohol at work can be risky, but it is another location where one can hide alcohol

from one’s family. Hiding it in a water bottle or coffee mug is an easy disguise. Keeping it in a thermos and leaving that in your drawer at work can be another way to hide it at work.

Buried in the Yard

Sometimes, people will store and hide their alcohol outside, such as buried in the yard

or behind large trees or bushes that don’t get noticed unless you are actively looking there.

Small Flasks

Having a handful of small flasks that can be placed anywhere is another easy way to

store and travel with alcohol.

Cabinets or Cubbys

Similarly to bathrooms and basements, if there are small nooks or cabinets that are

not used often or used for miscellaneous things that no one goes back for, it can be another location to hide alcohol.

What to Do if You Stumble on a Hidden Alcohol Stash

If you stumble upon a stash of alcohol, it’s important that you are careful with what you do next. If you leave it there and choose to address it, do so calmly and bring it up with a soft start. If you choose to get rid of the alcohol or bring it to plain sight, that can feel more impactful but can also feel harsher to the individual, so be prepared for that. Be mindful of how and what you say to avoid judgment and criticism, as alcohol addiction is a mental health condition and likely with additional mental health issues underlying as well. Having a conversation can include creating an environment where they feel safe with the topic and making sure it is private, as they may feel deep shame about their hidden stash being found.³

Some things that you should do if you find someone’s hidden alcohol stash include:

• Prepare yourself and make sure you can stay grounded in any follow-up conversation
• Be home if you have gotten rid of the alcohol so you can share what you did
• Talk about how you feel
• Gather information and resources on addiction if they are sharing they have a problem and need help
• Make tentative plans together for after a hard conversation so they know you will still be there
• Do not judge or make assumptions rather be curious and interested in what they say
• Understand that denial may happen, and trying to convince someone of something they are not ready to face is unhelpful to you and to them
• Avoid ultimatums, as this can feel threatening and trigger a need to use alcohol.

Is Hiding Alcohol a Sign of Alcoholism?

There are many signs of alcoholism, and one of them can be those who are hidden drinkers. Hiding something by nature means that there is some level of embarrassment, shame, or guilt at play, and needing to hide that means they are not proud of their behavior. It’s important to be sensitive to that feeling while being aware that alcohol addiction can develop quickly with these types of behaviors. It’s sometimes harder to understand and recognize alcoholism in someone who hides their alcohol use, but understanding other actions and their daily life can sometimes give us information.⁴

Treatment & Support for Hidden Alcoholism

There are many alcohol treatment options available for individuals hiding alcohol use, including therapy, support groups, and rehabilitation programs. You can help someone get help by helping to locate these resources and programs available in your area.

Treatment options for hidden alcoholism include:

• Individual therapy: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or (EMDR) for addiction could help you learn more about individual motivation and behaviors around alcohol use.
• Group therapy: Group therapy gives you a community to remind you that you are not alone
• Inpatient treatment: intensive treatment to help address mental and physical health impacts
• Alcoholics Anonymous: support group for those trying to stay sober and accountable
• Detox programs: the first step is often trying to detox, and withdrawal can be challenging

When to Seek Professional Help

If you feel that your alcohol use is getting in the way of your day-to-day life, or if you find yourself hiding alcohol and lying about your consumption, it is likely time to seek professional help. You can use an online therapist directory or online therapy platform to find a therapist. There are many good choices for finding a therapist who specializes in alcohol use both online and in person. You can also see if there are programs in person you can attend simultaneously, as beginning therapy for alcoholism can be scary. If you are feeling changes in mood, sleep, and appetite, talk to your therapist and consider seeing a psychiatrist. Similarly to therapists, there are also online psychiatrist options that can be helpful to guide you in medication management and help you curtail the effects of withdrawal.