Alcoholic/sober

Can an alcoholic claim to live a sober life when they still drink occasionally or when they do drink they do not get drunk?

A friend of mine posted a status today stating that she was proud of herself for only purchasing a bottle of wine for NYE when she could have had anything else she wanted. She also said she didn't go into the liquor store, but had her husband pick it up for her so she wouldn't be tempted to go crazy. She finished up the status by saying "Cheers to having a better life, going sober for a long time now".

Now I truly do not care if the girl drinks, but this struck me as odd. I am not an expert on addiction/alcoholism, but I thought living a sober life meant to give up the drug of choice entirely. It just sounds like she is making wiser choices and learning to drink in moderation, or do I have this all wrong?

Quoting 624582:" Can an alcoholic claim to live a sober life when they still drink occasionally or when they do drink ... [snip!] ... entirely. It just sounds like she is making wiser choices and learning to drink in moderation, or do I have this all wrong?"

SOME alcoholics can drink occassionally but most cant. usually they learn they cant after thinking they can :-)

If you drink or do drugs in any moderation, to me that's not being sober. Even if its once a year.

Meh. I got into pain pills really bad a few years back. Since then I have quit taking them so often. (As in every day 2-3 times a day). I will take them every now and then now. (As in the last time I took any, it was in October). Doesn't make me a pill head though.

I think her swearing sobriety is a bit of a stretch though if she is going to continue to have drinks here and there.

I wouldn't consider her sober even if its only an occasional drink.

Quoting TheNuge:" SOME alcoholics can drink occassionally but most cant. usually they learn they cant after thinking they can :-)"

 

I wouldn't say she's an alcoholic anymore, but I also wouldn't say she's sober.

Sober to me is never touching the stuff, ever.

Personally I consider a "sober" life one that you don't do drugs or drink alcohol. Even if once a year.

Does this mean she's still an alcoholic? No. She's someone who will drink tonight.

Quoting 624582:" Can an alcoholic claim to live a sober life when they still drink occasionally or when they do drink ... [snip!] ... entirely. It just sounds like she is making wiser choices and learning to drink in moderation, or do I have this all wrong?"

I just read your post again. If your question is whether or not she can claim she is sober, i dont think so as I'm not a alcoholic but i can drink ... as i will tonight.
i think she can claim to be an alcoholic that can have an occassional drink... if she is able to stop at an occassional drink.

An alcoholic can not live a live of drinking occassionally.
They might be able to start out with a glass a night. 3 days later it will be a bottle a night and soon after they will be totally out of control.

There are some alcoholics called binge drinker, who only drink in certain intervals, but if they drink they shoot their lights out ....often for several days in a row.

In any case they can't control their drinking! ....therefore a little bit of alcohol is not an option. Its all or nothing. Always will be. No cure for the desease.

To me, sober is a term most recovering alcoholics or people with addictions use because they never touch whatever their problem was with again. If they do, their period of sobriety starts over once they give it up.

If she wasn't an alcoholic & didn't have a drinking issue, maybe she means she just doesn't get drunk anymore...like has a drink or 2 & that's it?

<blockquote><b>Quoting ✰ Mrs. B ✰:</b>" To me, sober is a term most recovering alcoholics or people with addictions use because they never touch ... [snip!] ... & didn't have a drinking issue, maybe she means she just doesn't get drunk anymore...like has a drink or 2 & that's it?"</blockquote>




That's what everyone has always told me the sober word means

Quoting HopingforaMiracle:" Personally I consider a "sober" life one that you don't do drugs or drink alcohol. Even if once a year. Does this mean she's still an alcoholic? No. She's someone who will drink tonight."

But, I thought once you were an alcoholic or drug addict you will always be? This isn't me being snarky or attempting to make a low blow at addicts, I am just curious. I am not an alcoholic so drinking a few glasses of wine tonight isn't going to be a big deal for me, I rarely drink and have never had an issue with drinking. But, I am addicted to cigarettes/nicotine. I have quit before, but picked back up and I currently smoking a cigarette. When I quit smoking it was hard for me to be around those who smoke because of the temptation and when I would become stressed it was a struggle not to go to the store to pick up a pack because I knew the "relief" I would get from a few hits. Is that not the same with drinking/alcoholism? While one can be a recovering addict and live a sober life, which IMO is never touching it again, can they still claim that they are no longer an addict. Like I said, I am not very educated in addiction nor am I certain that this is the best outlook.

Quoting ✰ Mrs. B ✰:" To me, sober is a term most recovering alcoholics or people with addictions use because they never touch ... [snip!] ... & didn't have a drinking issue, maybe she means she just doesn't get drunk anymore...like has a drink or 2 & that's it?"

It would make sense if she never claimed to be an alcoholic, but she has in the past. According to her, her husband saved her and that is when she became "sober".

<blockquote><b>Quoting 624582:</b>" But, I thought once you were an alcoholic or drug addict you will always be? This isn't me being snarky ... [snip!] ... they are no longer an addict. Like I said, I am not very educated in addiction nor am I certain that this is the best outlook."</blockquote>




I made a poor choice of words. I apologize. You are right. Even with 20 years of sobriety under a person I know's belt he is still considered an alcoholic.