Alcoholic shares the three differences between a normal drinker and an addict
Concerned that your drinking is no longer limited to social situations and leaning towards a dependency? Here are warning signs identified by a former alcoholic to look out for.
Taking to YouTube to share his perspective, father of two Corey Warren explained that he'd noted ‘three big differences’ that set social drinkers apart from heavyweight guzzlers.
The former drinker is based in the United States and served several stints in rehab before becoming totally sober in 2011.
Fast forward to 2026, and not only has Warren managed to successfully abstain from alcohol, but he’s also a business owner, public speaker, and a founder of a non-profit that supports other addiction sufferers.
Advert
So it's fair to say that he knows what he's talking about.
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Warren explained that people who believe 'that an alcoholic is just somebody who drinks too much' don't understand the bigger picture.
"If you found yourself relating to any one of those three things, just know you're not alone," the content creator said. "I know what it feels like."
'The reason'
"The difference is not in how much I drink, it's in how I drink," he stated. "Normal drinkers, they have a reason for not drinking.
"Maybe the kids wake up early or I have to go to work or I'm getting up early so I can work out. Whatever it is, they have a reason not to drink."
Warren explained that he was in the mindset that he actually had a reason to drink.
Bad day: he would drink alcohol. Stressful moment: he would drink alcohol.
"If I'm fighting with my wife, I'm drinking," he continued.
"Or if something good happened and I want to celebrate, I'm drinking. See, normal drinkers, they have reasons not to drink. Me, I have every reason in the book to drink."
'The control'
The American also believes that there is a huge dissimilarity in the level of 'control' that both groups have when it comes to alcohol.
He reasoned that 'normal' drinkers could have one or two drinks before switching to a soft drink.
Warren added: "They know when enough is enough. I never had that switch, alcohol determined when enough was enough.
"If there was a drink in front of me, I was drinking it. If there was a case, I was finishing it. If it was a bottle, I wouldn't stop until it was gone.
"When I decided to stop, it was because the bottle was empty, I was passed out, or I was blacked out."
'The questions'
The third and final thing for Warren was that, in his opinion, 'normal' drinkers don’t really ever question if they have a drinking problem.
"They don't wrestle with the thought that maybe they shouldn't drink," the creator reasoned.
"But me, I was constantly asking myself, 'Is this good for me? Am I sure I should be doing this? Maybe I'm taking this too far... maybe I'm an alcoholic, maybe I should stop.
"Those are all questions that normal drinkers, they never ask. But me, I was always wondering."
What does the NHS say about problem drinking?
NHS guidance on alcohol says that adults should avoid drinking more than 14 units a week and to spread alcohol consumption out across several days instead of consuming weekly units in one day.
Signs which suggest potential alcohol misuse include:
- You feel you should cut down on your drinking
- Other people have been criticising your drinking
- You feel guilty or bad about your drinking
- You need a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover
There is also the 'CAGE' test, which can be used to gauge whether or not you may be a functioning alcoholic.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Alcohol, Food And Drink, Social Media, YouTube
Ella Scott