DryOutNow.com is a leading online provider of free medical information about alcoholism and drinking. This includes free medical information, research articles and news on alcohol and drinking related addictions to help inform professionals. The glossary style articles are one of a selection of news articles, academic research papers and information articles relating to addictive behaviour, and in particular to alcohol and drinking.

What does alcoholics mean?

Alcoholics are people suffering from the illness of alcoholism. The precise definition of alcoholics is unclear. Some will define alcoholics as anyone drinking more than the World Health Organisation’s limits for healthy drinking (21 units per week for males and 14 units per week for females with 2 days per week without drinking). Others say that a physical dependency to alcohol should be present before referring to people as alcoholics. Still others use the concept of psychological dependency to alcohol to define people as alcoholics.

Alcoholics as defined by healthy drinking limits
According to this definition of alcoholics, men drinking more than 8 pints of usual strength lager (5%abv) per week, on a routine basis would be classified as alcoholics. Females drinking more than 1.5 bottles of wine (13%abv) per week on a routine basis would be classified as alcoholics.

Alcoholics as defined by psychological addiction to alcohol
According to this definition of alcoholics, people suffering from marked cravings to use alcohol, who have developed a regular routine of alcohol use and who routinely place more importance on the use of alcohol than other important activities, would be classified as alcoholics.

Alcoholics as defined by physical addiction to alcohol
According to this definition of alcoholics, people suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as tremor and sweating when going without a drink for a period of time, would be classified as alcoholics.

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