What Is Considered a Social Drinker? Meaning & Signs

What Is A Social Drinker?

Social drinkers use events with friends, family, or other groups as opportunities to “let loose” and “unwind” with alcohol. This is done to increase the positive experience of a positive circumstance. For these individuals, it is all about festivities and fun. The social drinker takes the term, “Cheers” in its literal sense.¹

A social drinker does not privately use alcohol as an escape from undesirable feelings or circumstances. Their use of alcohol is revered as celebratory. Social drinkers want to be around others and that is generally when they limit their alcohol intake.

Is Social Drinking Harmful?

Social drinking may be harmful for certain individuals and in certain situations. For individuals who have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in their family, it would be prudent for the social drinker to be cautious about engaging in alcohol use. Alcoholism often seems to run in families.²

There are also instances where drinking any alcohol is ill-advised.³ Drinking any amount can be dangerous or fatal for individuals under the age of 21. This is the legal age requirement in the United States for alcohol consumption. Pregnant women or those who may be pregnant are advised against all alcohol. Individuals who are driving or plan to drive or participate in activities that require focus, attention, coordination, and alertness should avoid alcohol consumption. Some medical conditions, as well as certain medications, both over-the-counter and prescribed medications, should avoid alcohol. Lastly, it is advised against alcohol drinking for those who suffer from AUD or alcoholism.³ In these instances, social drinking or any form of drinking can be dangerous or deadly.

Social Drinking Vs. Problem Drinking

While there may be some similarities between the social drinker and an individual with AUD, there are marked differences. The social drinker wants to enjoy, engage, and increase the positivity of a joyous occasion. Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder is demarcated by an attempt to decrease negative symptoms.¹ A social drinker will consume alcohol in social gatherings like birthday celebrations, wedding parties, or other events where friends, families, and colleagues are present. Juxtaposed to a social drinker, an individual with AUD will drink alone to minimize negative emotions like depression.

While alcoholism disallows for abrupt discontinuation, the social drinker will not suffer from symptoms of withdrawal. A social drinker can engage in alcohol consumption and discontinue with the conclusion of social activities. There are no physical signs of addiction for this individual, like tremors, insomnia, nausea, and anxiety.³

There are differences between a social drinker and a problem drinker. Likely, it would require personal knowledge of the individual to distinguish clearly.

Social Drinker	Problem Drinker
Goal: elevated positive emotions	Goal: reduced tension
Use: social settings	Use: solitary settings
Beliefs: alcohol increases positive emotions	Beliefs: alcohol decreases negative emotions
Rewards: increased in social settings	Rewards: tension reduction in solitary settings
Outcome: social ease	Outcome: social discomfort
Extraverted	Introverted

Responsible Social Drinking

Responsible social drinking is possible. There may be benefits of social drinking, such as increased social connection, satisfaction with life, and feelings of happiness.⁵ The benefits of social drinking cannot be received without a balance of equal or greater responsibility. Safety for oneself and safety for others are staples to drinking responsibly.

Travel is an essential component of safety planning for the social drinker. Having a plan in advance for transportation is one way to be a responsible social drinker. Whether securing a designated driver, ensuring easy access to a taxi or lift service, or plans for a safe overnight stay are responsible considerations. These should be done preemptively for maximum safety.

Setting Limits

Responsible social drinking additionally requires an awareness of and respect for personal limits. Personal limits to consider before social drinking include sexual activity, purchasing or spending behaviors, and excessive consumption of alcohol. Balance and pre-planning are essential to responsible social drinking.

Know When to Say No

There are many reasons and times a social drinker may decline a drink. Saying no can sometimes be intimidating or uncomfortable, but there is power and wisdom in declining with respect and certainty.

Here are a few suggestions:

• I’ve reached my limit.
• I already had my last drink.
• Let’s do this again.
• I’m done for the night.
• I’d love to hang out another night.
• I always quit drinking ____ (hours/minutes) before leaving.
• I have plans tomorrow, so I’m done for the night.
• Let’s connect again, but I already had/this is my last drink.
• I’m planning _______. You’re welcome to join us!
• This is fun. If I drink any more tonight, I’ll need to leave early.

Consider writing your preferred method for saying no or working with a professional counselor or trusted mentor. Practice the preplanned no before an outing. This will help with memorization and comfortability.

Social Drinking & Religion

People who practice religion likely have strong convictions about drinking. There are also some religions with ambiguity and uncertainty around social drinking. Christians such as Protestants and Catholics generally follow a general guidance of moderation.⁶ The data indicates cultural differences may play a role, in combination with religious convictions, in whether social drinking is acceptable.

In some Latin countries, religious acceptance is precluded by cultural caution in regard to alcohol. Roughly 50% of Christians are reported to consume alcohol, according to one study.⁶ This study revealed that the percentage is higher, between 60-75%, for individuals who identified as unaffiliated to any or a particular religion.⁶

Religions like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Muslims forbid drinking altogether.⁶ The study was unable to obtain a large enough sample to provide data on alcohol use. For individuals who practice these religions, social drinking would be unacceptable.

Can Social Drinking Lead To Alcoholism?

In some cases, social drinking may lead to alcoholism. Alcoholism is a lack of control with regard to when and how much alcohol is ingested. It is a preoccupation with getting and using alcohol. Additionally, it involves a tolerance to alcohol, which creates a need for an increased amount to feel the desired similar effects.³

Social drinking can be a precursor to alcoholism or AUD for certain individuals. There are many factors that can increase an individual’s chances of AUD, including genetic and/or hereditary predispositions.² Other factors include environmental and social factors as well as the initial age of alcohol use. Trauma and mental health factors are factors in AUD also.³

Can A Recovering Alcoholic Become A Social Drinker?

It is unlikely that a recovering alcoholic can become a social drinker. Social drinking can involve ongoing and sometimes heavy use of alcohol. Primarily, alcoholics must abstain from drinking due to the nature of addiction. Therefore, a recovering alcoholic will not become a social drinker as that would be considered relapsing.

A recovered alcoholic will abstain from the use of alcohol, regardless of the setting. Social drinking is not a position in which the individual with alcoholism or AUD is able, in tandem, to participate. A recovered alcoholic who attempted to be a social drinker would jeopardize their success; success means the individual’s ability to control the urge to use any amount of alcohol.

Signs That Social Drinking May Actually Be Alcoholism

Social drinking is the extroverted use of alcohol in social settings to increase positive experiences. Alcoholism is the introverted use of alcohol to decrease negative experiences.¹ An onlooker may be unable to view or verify the internal motivations of alcohol use. Still, there are occasions when social drinking may be binge drinking or AUD.

The distinctions between alcoholism and social drinking involve several points. Primarily, when an individual is functioning in their typical life, including social and work-related activities, they may be considered a social drinker. Alcoholism is noted by an interruption of an individual’s regular life, including relationships at home, social relationships, social activities, and work-related concerns.

Alcoholism and AUD are serious diseases that can disrupt the health of the individual and create safety issues for them and others around them. There are both long-term and short-term effects of alcoholism on an individual’s physical health; in some situations, this can and will extend to problems within personal relationships and work opportunities.³

Some signs that someone’s social drinking might be alcoholism include:

• Experiencing blackouts or brownouts due to alcohol use
• Drinking to avoid dealing with issues
• Binge drinking, or drinking in excess (4 or more drinks on one single occasion for women; 5 or more drinks on one single occasion for men)
• Alcohol use in unsafe situations
• Reducing or giving up social activities to use alcohol
• Reducing or missing work to use alcohol
• Feeling a strong urge or craving for alcohol
• Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol
• Drinking knowing that it is causing relationship or other problems
• Withdrawal symptoms with discontinuation
• Failing to meet expectations at home due to alcohol use
• Failing to meet expectations at work due to alcohol use
• Desiring to cut back on alcohol use and failing
• Being unable to limit the use or amount of alcohol

Treatment Options For Alcohol Abuse

There are many options for the treatment of alcohol abuse including individual psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and group counseling. Depending on the stage of treatment, one or all of these could provide beneficial support to and through recovery. Treatment should be done with the oversight and support of a professional, certified substance abuse counselor and a medical doctor.

Some treatment options for alcohol abuse include:

Psychotherapy

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): CBT is an approach that targets irresponsible and unhelpful thought patterns and turns them into positive thoughts and behaviors through talk therapy.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Behavior changes are targeted in DBT through specific skills-based training through talk therapy.
• Motivational Interview (MI): With MI, Counselors will confront the client’s ambivalence towards change in this short-term treatment.⁷

Group Support

• 12-Step Program: This is a non-clinical setting for individuals who find anecdotal sharing and informal accountability helpful.
• Celebrate Recovery: This is a non-clinical setting for group support similar to a 12-step program that incorporates components of faith.

Psychiatry

• Sinclair Method: The Sinclair Method is a treatment with medication (naltrexone) that allows the individual to continue drinking in moderation. This form of therapy is an option for certain individuals.
• Ketamine Infusions: This is considered a psychedelic-assisted therapy.

When to Seek Professional Help

A good choice for finding a therapist who specializes in alcohol addiction for those who have limited access in their immediate area might be an online therapist directory or online therapy platform. In some cases, where medication is essential, it may be preferable to see a psychiatrist. There are good online psychiatrist options for finding alcohol addiction medication management.