by Valerie Johnson

Created on: August 01, 2008   Last Updated: August 19, 2008

What exactly does it mean to "drink socially?" There are many types of drinkers. Most of society will label themselves as "social" drinkers. Does that mean you only drink during social engagements? Does that mean you only drink at home? Alcoholics admitted or not, also say they are "social drinkers". It is a very ambiguous term. My question is not whether or not an alcoholic can drink "socially" again but rather "why are you asking this question?" I would seriously question the motives behind anyone who would offer or insist that a recovering alcoholic take a drink.

I think to really understand my views on this subject I need to define a couple of terms.

1. Disease: The Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines "disease" as "a condition of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms."

2. Alcoholism: According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, "a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial and emotional and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation over the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences and distortions in thinking, most notably, denial."

Given my definition of disease, alcoholism certainly falls right into place "impairs normal functioning" and "distinguishing signs and symptoms". Alcoholics have severe impaired functioning. They usually have many broken relationships, cannot hold a steady job, 1 or more traffic violations due to their drinking. Distinguishing signs and symptoms that I have seen include selfishness, compulsive lying, memory lapses, enlarged and impaired liver function and impaired cognitive ability. But does labeling alcoholism a "disease" have any effect on the alcoholic's ability to control his or her drinking?

Can an alcoholic ever drink socially again, absolutely not, if he/she is a "true" alcoholic. It is not a simple matter of will power or desire. It is not a matter of control. An alcoholic can think of nothing else. The craving for another drink is first and foremost on their minds. Thus the phrase that an alcoholic "can control their drinking if they truly want to" is the epiphany of misunderstanding of alcoholism.

Most alcoholics truly want to stop, have tried to stop, have promised loved ones they'll never touch another

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