'Grey drinking' explained as psychiatrist reveals how to tell if you have a 'problem' with alcohol

If you asked the majority of people whether they had a problem with alcohol, I'm pretty sure that nine out of ten respondents would furiously respond 'no' - however, there is another category that they might fall into.

Instead of jumping straight to the worst case scenario when thinking of alcoholism, we ought to look at it on a spectrum, as those who like a tipple have a varied levels of reliance on it.

Some people are perfectly content with having the occasional bevvy every few months at a family do, while there are others who knock back some of the strong stuff every night - and there are those in the middle ground too.

In the words of US psychiatrist Dr Daniel Amen, 'you're not a full-blown addict, but you don't really have a healthy relationship' with booze either.

If those words resonate with you, then welcome to the 'grey drinking' club.

This is essentially the grey area of drinking - you might not be completely dependent on alcohol, but you take it a lot further than the average person would after agreeing to have a quiet pint with your pals.

This kind of boozer doesn't show the usual signs of alcohol abuse that we've been taught to look out for, however, they often struggle with knowing when to stop...so they're all too familiar with the dreaded 'hangxiety' the next morning.

They're also not falling out of pubs covered in sick on a daily basis though, so it's a lot harder to spot that they may be struggling with alcohol - however, Dr Amen has revealed how you can tell if you fall into this category.

In a TikTok video explaining the ins and outs of 'grey drinking' he explained how you can recognise the signs of it.

The Los Angeles-based specialist said: "I often think, if you drink and it gets you into trouble - health, relationship, law, your money - and you do it again, you have a problem.

"But if you are waking up feeling not 100% everyday after you drink, that's a problem.

"If you say things in your relationship - to your partner or your children - and it only happens when you drink, that's a problem," he continued.

"If you just don't feel sharp - you're beginning to lose words, no matter what your age - that means alcohol may be a problem for you."

According to Dr Amen, you should always ask yourself what 'the goal of drinking' is.

And if it's got something to do with boosting your mood and simply feeling better within yourself, then the clinician's got some news for you, as he added: "Well, there is like 1,000 other ways. It's good to try those."

Don't get me wrong, you don't need to feel guilty for letting your hair down once in a while or concerned if you've had a few booze-related social events back-to-back - but just beware if your drinking habits are a bit sporadic.

The NHS has various tips for cutting down on drinking, including setting a budget, choosing smaller sizes and letting friends and family know if you are struggling.

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.