Alcoholic shares the three differences between normal drinker and addict as Christmas approaches

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

Boozing has become somewhat synonymous with Christmas - and with so many Baileys flavours to sup on and creamy pints of Guinness to guzzle at the pub with your family? Well, you really can’t blame people for indulging, can you?

Festive drinking can often be fun when done in moderation, but personal battles with alcohol abuse can easily become all-consuming, too.

But how do you tell the difference between ‘normal’ Christmas drinking and people who are abusing the bottle?

According to YouTuber Corey Warren, there are ‘three big differences’ that set social Yuletide drinks apart from heavyweight guzzlers.

"If you found yourself relating to any one of those three things, just know you're not alone," the content creator began. "I know what it feels like."

The festive season is a lot of people's perfect excuse to drink to excess (Getty Stock Image)

The former drinker is based in the United States and served several stints in rehab before becoming totally sober in 2011.

Fast forward to 2025, and not only does the father-of-two manage 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.

In August, Warren uploaded a video to YouTube, explaining why people who believe 'that an alcoholic is just somebody who drinks too much' don't understand the bigger picture.

'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.

Corey Warren said he always had a 'reason' to drink alcohol (Instagram/@icoreywarren)

"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 putting down the festive punch.

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."

If you’re thinking of hitting the bottle this festive season, then Drinkaware has some tips and tricks.

These include alternating alcohol drinks with water to stay hydrated, eating before opening the bubbly, and trying out alcohol-free alternatives.

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.