Alcoholic says putting yourself in one situation will prove if drinking 'controls your life'

Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.

The health concerns around drinking are more prevalent than ever and one alcoholic is sharing his honest thoughts on how to identify others in the same predicament.

Although there is an ever-growing amount of people going sober and enjoying all the health benefits that come with quitting the booze for good, many still spend their weeknights and weekends having a few drinks.

In moderation, there's no issue with this, even if the long-term health impact of drinking just a few beers could be very bad for us in the future.

But Corey Warren, a social media creator who is raising awareness about alcoholism, has previously explained why getting blackout drunk is one of the key signs that your drinking is no longer casual.

And now, the Instagram star has explained the one situation anyone concerned about potentially being an alcoholic should put themselves in in order to check if drinking really controls our lives.

He said: "Next time that you go out to a game or to a concert, just don't drink. Or next time that you go out to dinner and everybody's buying around, don't drink.

Avoiding alcohol at social events is a big test according to Corey (Getty Stock)

"Next time that you have friends over on a Friday night, just don't drink and sit with that. Tell me how you feel. Do you feel like it's a little boring? Do you feel like something's out of place even though nothing's changed?

"Do you feel like this would be better with a drink? And if so, that's good because that's the part that most people ignore.

"Maybe the question isn't am I drinking too much? Maybe the question is, why does life feel off when I don't? If you want to better your life, start by getting all the alcohol out of it."

Naturally, one of the hardest times to say no to alcohol is when all of your friends and family are enjoying it at the same time, especially in a social environment.

So, it makes sense that not being able to say no to a drink at this time would hint at a reliance on it, and maybe it's time to think about quitting.

While it's not giving up entirely, some young people are trying 'zebra striping' on nights out to alternate between alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, although that might be more to do with avoiding a hangover in the morning.

Others are finding success with ditching it for good, whether that be a temporary measure in 'Dry January', or simply going years without it.

Either way, giving our bodies a break from alcohol is always going to be a good thing, no matter how long we do it for, and it's also another good test to see how much it might be controlling our lives.

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.