Are There Different Types of Alcoholics?

When hearing the word “alcoholic”, most people have a stereotypical image in mind. It is someone untidy who drinks strong liquor daily. But the reality is far more nuanced. There are several types of alcoholics. Each has specific drinking patterns, warning signs, and therapy needs. Consequently, people suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) can look and live very differently.

Nearly 27 million Americans have problems with alcohol. In terms of scale, that’s like the entire population of Australia. In this article, we will explore the most widespread types of alcoholics, how to distinguish them, and how to determine the severity level.

Who Is Considered an Alcoholic?

In medical terms, it is a person who meets the criteria for AUD. Such individuals are unable to stop or control their harmful habits, even realizing the negative effects they have on their lives.

Do alcoholics drink every day? Addiction specialists are sure that drinking frequency alone doesn’t define alcoholism. To diagnose it, one has to undergo a medical examination. You will be offered to complete the questionnaire, discuss your symptoms and health issues, take the necessary tests, and only after this will it be possible to determine the severity of the AUD to plan addiction treatment.

In real life, being an alcoholic doesn’t always look the same. Some types of alcoholics drink heavily every day, while others binge occasionally. Some individuals may seem successful and high-functioning, but drink a couple of cans of beer every evening. What they share is a growing reliance on booze to cope, relax, or feel “normal”.

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5 Types of Alcoholics

There are different classifications of alcoholism that use habits, lifestyle, and the impact of alcohol on a person’s life as determining factors. We’ve chosen five of the most widespread types of alcoholism to show you the multifaceted nature of this disease.

Social Drinkers

The main “heroes” of this group are people who enjoy drinking mainly during gatherings, celebrations, or social situations. They believe that each occasion is situational and under control, like a glass of wine at dinner, cocktails with friends, or drinks at a company event. For many, it’s simply part of social life rather than a daily habit.

The warning signs are the following:

• Feeling the need to drink to enjoy social events;
• Slowly increasing drinking doses during gatherings;
• Developing alcohol tolerance and drinking more to feel the same condition;
• Relying on alcohol to overcome uncomfortable situations.

Social drinking doesn’t quickly progress into dependency and may remain harmless for years. Early recognition of the warning signs is crucial to prevent AUD, which could go unnoticed at first.

Binge Drinkers

They don’t drink every day, but when they do, episodic drinkers can’t stop. This behavior is common among young adults, college students, and people who drink primarily at parties.

While binge drinking may seem controlled because it isn’t a daily habit, it hides serious risks of accidents, blackouts, and aggressive behavior. The warning signs are memory lapses after drinking, frequent hangovers, and loss of control over the amount of beverages consumed. Even though these types of alcoholics are able to stay sober for weeks, the frequency of their heavy drinking episodes can quickly escalate.

Functioning Alcoholics

It is people who seem to have a normal life. They go to work, pay their bills, play with kids, and plan future vacations. At first glance, everything appears to be in order. Without realizing it, alcohol quietly becomes a friend. They might pour a drink right after work to “unwind,” or secretly keep a flask nearby to get through stressful moments. Over time, that habit turns into a dependency they can’t control.

How to recognize functional alcoholics? They often drink alone, occasionally experience blackouts, and may arrive at work hungover or slightly impaired while keeping up appearances. For example, a successful manager might celebrate closing every deal with a drink and eventually start needing one before meetings. A parent might wait until the kids are asleep to open a bottle, convincing themselves it’s just to relax. These people often deny having a problem because they’re still functioning.

Chronic-Severe Alcoholics

Among all types of alcoholics, this is the most serious form. It can develop from any other type (e.g., intermediate familial or functional alcoholism). Such individuals drink heavily and consistently, often multiple times a day, and experience physical dependence, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and serious health complications.

This type of alcoholism requires professional medical intervention and often long-term treatment to safely manage dependence and support recovery.

Young Adult Alcoholics

Youth is a period of active socializing and parties. Alcohol is an essential element of all gatherings. Many young people begin drinking heavily in their late teens or early twenties, especially when studying in college or living in dormitories. Recognizing these types of alcoholics is important, as young adults may develop risky patterns that go unnoticed. While they may appear active and socially engaged. Early patterns of heavy drinking put them at risk for developing alcohol dependence if not addressed. Warning signs include:

• Frequent binge drinking episodes;
• Using alcohol to handle stress, anxiety, or social situations;
• Neglecting studies, work, or responsibilities due to drinking;
• Showing early signs of tolerance.

Because their drinking habits start young, intervention and education are critical to prevent long-term health issues and the progression to more severe forms of alcoholism.

AUD Severity Levels

AUD has three severity levels. It depends on the number of diagnostic criteria a person meets, as defined by the DSM-5.

• A mild level occurs when you meet 2–3 criteria. Some types of alcoholics, being in the first stage, experience problems related to drinking occasionally, like having cravings or increasing doses beyond personal limits. Such cases are often manageable with short-term therapy, a few sessions of counseling, and changing lifestyle.
• A moderate level is diagnosed when a person meets 4–5 criteria. At this stage, alcohol begins to impact life noticeably. Treatment requires more serious measures and a longer time. However, you can recover without hospitalization.
• A severe level applies to those types of alcoholics who meet 6 or more criteria. Booze already impacts all spheres of their lives and might cause serious health, legal, or social issues. To overcome the severe stage, one needs intensive treatment, including medical supervision, detox, rehabilitation programs, and long-term therapy.

Only qualified specialists are allowed to diagnose your condition and prescribe treatment.

Assessing Alcohol Use Disorder

Here are some of the official criteria for AUD assessment:

1. Drinking beyond personal limits;
2. Experiencing strong cravings or urges to drink;
3. Two or more unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control alcohol use;
4. Spending a lot of time drinking or feeling sick afterward.

Also, it is critical to take into account facts like neglecting responsibilities, continuing to drink despite physical or mental health problems, and developing tolerance or withdrawal symptoms.

How Men’s and Women’s Alcoholism Differ

Men and women refer to different types of alcoholics. Booze affects them differently. It varies in how their bodies process it, how it shapes behavior, health risks, and recovery choices. If we look at the NIAAA surveys, we will see that 67.6 % of adult men reported drinking in the past year compared to 65.4 % of adult women, and 6.4 % of men reported heavy alcohol use in the past month versus 3.7 % of women.

Rehabilitation programs will differ as well. For men, the focus should be on reducing heavy drinking, social pressures, and engaging in risky behaviors. For women, it’s important to catch problems early and address health risks even at lower stages. Specialists need to pay more attention to mental health state and select treatment that fits their life situations, taking into account childcare or caregiving responsibilities.

Struggling with addiction?

Recovering is a long and challenging process, but you don’t have to be alone. We are here to guide you and offer a safe and substance-free environment to regain control of your life and create a new path for your future.

Gain Confidence on Your Path to Sobriety with Sober House

Substance use disorder (SUD) requires an individual treatment approach, using a combination of time-tested methods (e.g., group therapy, medication-based treatment, and inpatient rehabilitation programs). They all aim to manage cravings, normalize mental health, and change reactions to triggers.

Once initial inpatient treatment is completed, a fear of setback and overwhelming responsibility might feel challenging. This feeling is similar for all types of alcoholics and addicts, and sober houses become a lifeline. They offer a supportive environment where individuals can live without stress, build healthy routines, and communicate with peers. They bridge the gap between formal treatment and independent living.

One example of such a facility for temporarily staying is Eco Sober. We prioritize holistic wellness, communication with like-minded people, and a substance-free environment. All our clients here are engaged in daily routines that gradually cultivate self-discipline. You’ll be able to share your thoughts and experiences without judgment, celebrate milestones together, and start a new page in your life.