According to the Regional Council on Alcoholism, there are several warning signs that someone you love might be an alcoholic. Essentially, if a person is drinking and it is disrupting their functioning, they have a drinking problem—no matter the quantity or frequency of use.

However, there are some signs you can look for to see the extent of their problem. The more of these signs that are present in their life, the more serious the problem. 

1. Loss of Control. Alcoholics progressively lose their ability to control their use of alcohol over time. They become less adept at controlling the quantity of alcohol they will drink, the amount of time spent drinking, and their behavior while drinking. They may commit to "only having a few drinks," but rarely be able to keep this pledge.
2. Tolerance. Alcoholics slowly build up tolerance to the substance they are using, needing more and more of the substance to obtain the same high. This warning sign is particularly evident when the disease has just begun. If the disease has progressed far enough, their tolerance will actually go back down again, and they will find they cannot drink as much as they once could.
3. Broken Promises. With greater frequency, the alcoholic makes commitments that they do not keep. They may have every intention of following through with a promise when they make it, but their pattern of alcohol use precludes them from keeping their word.
4. Drinking Alone. In order to hide the enormity of their problem, alcoholics often drink by themselves so that others cannot observe the quantity and frequency of their use. By doing this, they may be able to hide some of their shame about their addiction.
5. Denial. Alcoholics insist that they do not have a problem, even when those around them are clearly being negatively impacted by their pattern of use. They state that they are still in control and could "cut back if they wanted to."

6. Blackouts. Occasionally, alcoholics will appear to be functioning normally to those around them, but they will actually have no memory of the experience. This is called a blackout. They will be unable to recall anything they did or said during a blackout.
7. Hiding or Protecting the Supply. Alcohol becomes more and more central to the alcoholic's life. They must guarantee that they will always have a supply on hand, so they hide alcohol in odd places such as dressers, the bathroom, or the car. They also hide alcohol in order to appear to drink less than they actually do.
8. Control Games. Alcoholics attempt to control their drinking through elaborate strategies. For example, only drinking on the weekends, switching from hard liquor to beer, or only drinking in certain settings.
9. Personality Changes. Because there is so much emotional pain and shame in the alcoholic's life, they often can switch moods quickly. One moment they may be pleasant and easy-going and then be short-tempered and annoyed the next. Their pleasant moods can also be manipulative in order to pacify someone who is upset with their behavior.
10. Morning Drinking. Alcoholics often experience hangovers after an evening of drinking. If they have a drink first thing in the morning, it relieves the unpleasant physical symptoms.
11. Life Problems Caused by Drinking. Alcoholics often blame their drinking on the problems in their life. They feel they have too much stress to deal with their problems without using. However, it is more likely that their alcohol use is causing their problems, or at least increasing the impact of stressors that are already present in their lives. If alcohol use is causing problems in functioning at home, school, or work, this means that they have a drinking problem. Even if none of the other signs of alcoholism are present.

If someone you know is exhibiting even one of these symptoms, they should be evaluated to see if they have a substance abuse problem. A professional will be able to assess the extent of the person’s problem and be able to recommend what type of treatment might best be able to help them overcome their addiction. See also:

• Alcohol
• Moderate Alcohol Use: Helpful or Harmful?
• Think Locking the Liquor Cabinet is Enough? Think Again.