Do I Have an Alcohol Problem If I Only Drink at Night?

You finish work, get through the evening routine and pour a drink. Because it happens after your responsibilities are done, it may seem separate from the rest of your life.

But perhaps one drink regularly becomes several. You might be thinking about alcohol earlier in the day, struggling to take a night off or becoming worried about how much you rely on it.

Drinking only at night does not establish an alcohol problem. It also does not rule one out. What matters is the broader pattern and its effect on your wellbeing.

Look at what happens, rather than the clock

Concerns about alcohol use include difficulty controlling how much you drink, unsuccessful efforts to cut down and continuing despite harm. Cravings, tolerance and withdrawal may also be relevant to assessment.[1]

You might consider whether the evening still feels like a choice. Can plans change comfortably, or does the prospect of not drinking feel increasingly difficult?

Avoid turning that question into a judgement about your character. It is information to discuss with someone who can help assess the situation.

Questions worth bringing to an appointment

Consider writing down:

* What and how much you usually drink.

* Whether that amount has changed.

* What happens when you try to have an alcohol-free evening.

* Any concerns about sleep, mood, health or relationships.

* Any medicines or other substances you use.

A GP or alcohol and other drug clinician can help interpret this information. Keeping a record is a starting point, rather than a substitute for assessment.

Does alcohol actually help you sleep?

Alcohol can make you feel drowsy, but it can disrupt sleep quality later in the night. It can also interact with medicines and affect mental and physical health.[2]

If you are drinking mainly to switch off, tell your clinician what the evenings feel like before you drink. You might be looking for relief from worry, a transition out of work or a way to manage an uncomfortable feeling. Those are possibilities to explore, not assumptions about why you drink.

Ask what a helpful evening would look like and what support would make it more achievable.

Do not test dependence by stopping suddenly

If you may be physically dependent on alcohol, seek medical advice before cutting down or stopping. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening.[3]

Shaking, sweating, nausea or feeling markedly unwell when alcohol wears off need medical attention. Seizures, hallucinations or severe confusion are emergencies. Call 000 for severe or life-threatening symptoms.[3]

Counselling does not replace medical withdrawal care. A GP or specialist alcohol and other drug service can help determine the safest approach.

What can counselling contribute?

Counselling can provide space to examine your drinking, what you would like to change and the situations that make change difficult. Your support plan may also include medical treatment or other services.[4]

You do not need to settle on the word addiction before asking for help. Starting with an honest account of your evenings is enough.

Alcohol counselling in Bankstown

Advance Minds offers drug and alcohol counselling in Bankstown and online across Australia.

Explore drug and alcohol counselling or book an appointment.

General information only. Get individual medical advice about dependence and withdrawal.

Sources

1. Healthdirect: Substance misuse.

2. Healthdirect: Food, drink and mental health.

3. Healthdirect: Addiction withdrawal.

4. Healthdirect: Drug and alcohol rehabilitation.