Are You A Heavy Drinker?

[KevanGuy]

On QR yesterday they mentioned a MADD (I think) poll that was done about drinking. Heavy drinking was defined as 5 or more drinks in one night once a month (or 12 times a year). The funny part was that only 36% of the Canadians polled said they could therefore be considered heavy drinkers.

I find the definition to be way off what I would consider heavy drinking and I am very surprised only 36% of the people polled fell into that category. Who did they ask? Elementary students?

So, yes or no? Do you fit that description. I'm sure most of you know which side of that fence I am on.

[octothorp]

I'm a 'no'. A lot of 3 or 4 drink nights, but very rarely do I get up to 5.

Reminds me of these girls from Ireland I knew who had something they called an Irish Drunk test. It was basically to see if you had a problem with alcohol. For six straight days, you go to the pub, drink six beers, and then cut yourself off. If, on any night, you don't have the self-control to cut yourself off at six, then you've got a problem with alcohol. Otherwise, you're fine.

A desire to take the Irish Drunk test on a weekly basis may also signal a problem with alcohol.

[Eagle Eye]

Definite No,

I probably only have 5 drinks in an entire year. Making up for my late teen years.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah two years ago I would have been a yes, but now I'm a no because very seldom do I go past 4 too. Ever since I ended up in the drunk tank after Mens night at the golf course, I decided that I had a problem and needed to change my ways. Try telling your boss that you can't make it to work because you ended up in the drunk tank on a week night.

So far this year I have had one heavey drinking session and even that night I maybe had 6 drinks over like 5 hours plus when I was on hollidays. But there were times earlier on in my life where I would have had 12 of these by the 15th of each month.

[MolsonInBothHands]

I guess I am in the yes category... with camping, slow pitch, golf, I probably get my "12 steps" in during the summer alone. Though, for the rest of the year, I let the liver get rested up for Christmas.

[dustygoon]

yes. I am hitting that 5 plus drinks threshold 4 times a month.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, pretty much every weekend in the summer when I'm up at the lake I have at least 5 beers. Granted I'm not pounding them in a few hours, but over the entire day.

That being said I do have probably 1 night a month where I go pretty hard (usually at least one rugby party a month).

I suppose it's all just a label.
Am I a heavy drinker? I suppose according to this I am.
Do I have a problem with alcohol? I'd say no, I like drinking, but I don't feel the urge to do it every day, and there are lots of nights where I just don't feel like it at all.

I think sometimes things like this can cause problems. What about the guy who comes home from work every day and has 4 scotces? By this criteria he isn't a heavy drinker, but I'd be willing to bet in the course of a year he drinks a hell of a lot more than I do.

[jam26]

I'm in the Yes camp as well. Stampede alone would account for the 12 days!

[habernac]

according to their definition, I guess I am. What a load of crap.

[Eddie Bronze]

If it only takes 5 drinks one night 12 times a year, then the results of the survey are false.
Personally I'm a no because I never drink. Even the smell of alcohol, let alone a drink, can cause major headaches for me. Beer I don't smell it in, but any of the hard liquors I just can't even be around.
Those standards seem pretty weak to me though. I have friends who drink more than that and I'd never consider them heavy drinkers.

[RougeUnderoos]

I'm in the yes side as well. If all it takes is 12 drinks a night, 5 times a week then I cover it pretty easy.

[ratech]

I drink over 5 drinks every night and I don't consider myself a heavy drinker. I just enjoy beer ALOT. Probably put back 6 - 8 a night and a case on the weekends. I work in the coporate world and make it to work every day. Have two kids and a great relationship. Nights I don't drink, no problem. That survey is a load.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally posted by Eddie Bronze@Jun 3 2005, 10:14 AM
If it only takes 5 drinks one night 12 times a year, then the results of the survey are false.
Personally I'm a no because I never drink. Even the smell of alcohol, let alone a drink, can cause major headaches for me. Beer I don't smell it in, but any of the hard liquors I just can't even be around.
Those standards seem pretty weak to me though. I have friends who drink more than that and I'd never consider them heavy drinkers.

I love this response.
Kinda sounds like you're saying
"I don't drink alcohol, only beer."

I know you're not, but that's funny, kinda like
"I don't do drugs, I only smoke weed".

[looooob]

I used to be an easy yes. I'd hit the mark in 2 weeks, up until age 30

now I'm a no I would say. ahh fatherhood

[HOZ]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Jun 3 2005, 04:22 PM
I'm in the yes side as well. If all it takes is 12 drinks a night, 5 times a week then I cover it pretty easy.

HUH? Time to give the liver a rest ther bud!

12 a night!!!! Damn!!!!

[Sylvanfan]

I think overall demographic makeup of the country skew these numbers. If you were to look at specific cohorts than the results would be quite different. 16-20, 21-25, 26-30, 31-35 and so on, I think you'd see the numbers peak in the 21-25 mark and gradually fall from there. When you consider that baby boomers make up the largest part of our population and range from 39-58 (assuming they're born 1947-1966) I would venture out and suggest that less than 20% of them would be heavy drinkers in this survey. So if this 36% number is to apply to the entire population than I think it's probably pretty accurate, but if you were to look at the under 30 crowd than it's likely above 50%.

[JiriHrdina]

I find surveys like this interesting. An organization like MADD does a lot of great work but would be well served to be a little more moderate in their views. If they go out there proclaiming that anyone that drinks 5+ beverages once a month or more is a “heavy drinker” it positions them as being a little nutty in their viewpoints. Really – the question that they should be asking in a survey is how many people drink and drive and how often. Maybe they ask this question too but the problem is that a question like the one posed in this thread gets the expected (and appropriate) response from Joe Public…what a load of crap. Which is too bad for an organization that has good intentions.

[MJK]

5+ drinks at least once a week.

But I don't consider myself a heavy drinker at all.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I think I clicked no, but the more I think about it it would be yes. I guess even if someone goes out 2 times a month they are way over the limit which has been set out.

I wonder how the question was phrased though, that could have a huge impact on the results, especially coming from an organization such as MADD

[Abstract]

If thats the limits then i can cover me and someone else. What a loada bull.