WHETHER you’re a ‘glass of wine with dinner’ kind of gal or a ‘few pints down the pub with your mates’ kinda guy, our booze habits tellsus something about our health.
For some, can become all-consuming with devastating effects on work, family, and , increasing the risk of diseases such as pancreatitis, , and .
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, around 400 more Brits died from alcohol-specific causes in 2023 (10,473) than the previous year (10,048) – the highest year-on-year increase since records began.
But spotting alcohol addiction isn’t as easy as you might think.
The type of drinker you are can help reveal whether you have a problem with booze.
Recovery coach Elizabeth Walker, founder of The Empowerment Warrior, says: “Childhood experiences, social conditioning and the subconscious beliefs we pick up from the world around us all shape drinking habits.
“If someone grew up seeing alcohol as the go-to stress reliever, or they believe it makes them funnier, more confident or more relaxed, they’re more likely to lean on it.”;
Here, Elizabeth outlines 10 types of drinkers and what the risk factors are for each.
Can you spot yourself amongst them?
1. The high-functioning drinker
These drinkers, Elizabeth says, are: “Outwardly successful, meeting responsibilities, appear confident and in control, but rely on alcohol as a coping mechanism.
“They may justify drinking because they have a good job, relationships, or achievements.”;
RISKS: “Because drinking isn’t visibly ‘ruining’ their life, it’s easy to stay in denial.
“Could be slowly eroding emotional wellbeing, self-esteem, and physical health.”;
2. The binge drinker
Prone to having the odd blowout every now and again?
Elizabeth says: “Binge drinkers can go days or weeks without drinking, but when they do, it’s excessive and often leads to regrettable behaviour.
“They may think they don’t have a problem because they have ‘breaks’ between drinking sessions.”;
RISKS: “Make risky decisions while intoxicated, physical strain from intense alcohol consumption, potential to escalate into more frequent drinking over time.”
3. The emotional drinker
Alcohol can seem like a simple solution to avoid certain emotions.
Elizabeth says: “The emotional escape drinker drinks primarily to numb difficult emotions – , , sadness, loneliness.
“They use alcohol as an ‘off switch’ for their feelings rather than for socialising or enjoyment.”;
RISKS: “Is dependent upon alcohol to regulate or mask emotions which makes it harder to develop and use healthy coping mechanisms.”;
4. The social drinker
Many of us can’t imagine seeing friends without having a glass of something, but things can go too far.
Elizabeth says social drinkers “usually drink only in social settings but struggle to stop once they start and often find themselves drinking more than intended or feeling pressured to keep up”;.
RISKS: “Difficulty maintaining self-control, potential for excessive drinking to become habitual, especially in social circles where heavy drinking is normalised.”;
5. The self-destructive drinker
If you know someone who “drinks recklessly, often with little regard for consequences,”; they could be a self-destructive drinker.
Elizabeth says: “They might drink despite serious personal, professional, or health problems and often feel hopeless or uninterested in their future.”;
RISKS: “These types of drinkers are at the most risk of physical harm, self-sabotage and could easily find themselves facing severe addiction-related consequences.”;
6. The habitual drinker
Tend to have a drink every night without really thinking about it? If it’s just something you do, it’s worth thinking about why.
Elizabeth says: “Drinking has become a habit rather than a way of coping with emotional distress or social pressure, perhaps a glass of every evening, beers after work, or regular weekend drinking that feels automatic.
“You may not consider it a problem because it’s routine and doesn’t seem to be having any negative impact on life.”;
RISKS:“May underestimate their dependence, making it harder to recognise when drinking starts to interfere with their physical or emotional wellbeing, quality of life or relationships.”;
7. The situational drinker
Getting a bit tipsy after heartbreak or missing out on a promotion is understandable, but watch where it leads.
Elizabeth says situational drinkers “drink heavily in response to specific life events or stressors (e.g. a breakup, job loss, financial stress) but may not otherwise drink excessively”;.
RISKS: “Can spiral into ongoing dependence if stressors persist, or turn into habitual drinking without warning.”;
8. The secret drinker
Elizabeth says secret drinkers “hide their drinking from others, either out of shame, fear of judgement, or denial about how much they are consuming.
“Most likely drink in private while intending to maintain a composed image in public.”;
RISKS: “Often leads to isolation, increased dependence and difficulty reaching out for help.”;
9. The measured drinker
Also known as ‘controlled’ drinkers, these people “drink in a carefully controlled way, often limiting themselves to a specific amount (e.g. two glasses of wine, one cocktail) but need that daily ritual to function or unwind,”; says Elizabeth.
“They might justify their drinking because they see it as being within ‘acceptable limits’.”;
RISKS: “Can be a sign of reliance on alcohol to feel ‘normal’ or relaxed and often leads to habitual heavier drinking.
“The control they impose may mask a deeper dependence, they might not drink excessively, but they feel they need or ‘deserve’ it.”;
10. The blackout drinker
Drinking yourself into oblivion is never a good sign.
Elizabeth says the blackout drinker “frequently drinks to the point of memory loss, waking up unable to recall conversations, events, or even how they got home.
“Might joke about ‘losing chunks of the night’ or rely on friends to piece things together.”;
RISKS: “A clear sign that alcohol is impacting brain function and decision-making.
“Often leads to increased anxiety about their behaviour and at its worst can lead to dangerous situations, risky behaviour, and long-term .”;
When to seek help…
You don’t have to fit perfectly into one of these personality types or be desperate for a drink when you wake up in the morning to have an issue with alcohol.
It doesn’t even matter how much or how regularly you drink.
Elizabeth says: “You don’t need a dramatic wake-up call to decide that alcohol isn’t serving you.
“If you think it is a problem, it is a problem.”;
If you are concerned about your relationship with alcohol, speak to your GP, a therapist, counsellor, or recovery coach.
