The easiest way to tell if someone is an alcoholic is whether they have an increasing tolerance to the effects of alcohol. You may have heard the expression that someone can “hold their liquor.” This is not a sign that this person will not have problems with alcohol: in fact, this may be an early sign of alcoholism.
A growing preoccupation with or interest in drinking, drinking alone or drinking before an activity where there will be drinking. It may seem as though one simply enjoys drinking. We now know that these signs are the first symptoms of alcoholism.
A person will dispute there is a problem. This symptom, called denial, is almost always present in alcoholism.
Later, difficulties in relationships, at work, or with the law often occur.
OTHER SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY ARE:
hiding alcohol or sneaking drinks
gulping the first few drinks
wanting to drink more, or longer, than the rest of the crowd
losing control of drinking, leading to attempts to control it (“going on the wagon”)
TAGS: early signs of alcoholism, symptoms of alcoholism, signs of alcohol abuse ALCOHOL addiction, physical symptoms