I don't know how to answer this question. I go in waves, I guess. In college, I was a heavy drinker, both volume and frequency. Right after school, it kind of tapered off, and through law school, I didn't drink much at all. Then it picked up, until I got married, then it changed. I still drank often, but not as heavily, since I was married to someone who is an alcoholic. So I had to be the conscientious one. From that point on, I sort of became a binge drinker. Not often, but there were times when I let loose and hit it hard. After the divorce, I sort of morphed into more frequent, less quantity, though again, there were occasionally times when I let loose. Now remarried (to a woman who was previously married to an active, and destructive, alcoholic) I rarely drink, except for the glass of wine at dinner (which I love).
I've been lucky with regards to trouble, but it's mostly been luck:
- I'm not a violent drunk at all (lover not a fighter);
- my tolerance has always been high enough that I usually get tired of drinking - bloated or full - before I get in too much trouble;
- I see a lot of concerts, and I do not like being hammered at them. If I'm with a group, I'll have a couple beers before, but I want to see the show. If I go by myself - which I do a lot - I will only have a drink if the venue sells them, and only one, MAYBE two;
- I like people, I like talking to people, but I don't like being out of control. So you'll almost never see me as the sloppy guy at the bar.
Technically speaking I suppose I do have symptoms of a problem, but I talk about it at length with my therapist and between her and a wife that won't tolerate being a part of that life again, I'm comfortable that any problems I have are my problems - me - not alcohol. If that makes sense.