How To Know If Your Drinking Is a Problem (Even If Your Life Is Good)

"I'm married, I have two kids, I work hard, and I coach baseball. I drink four beers most nights. I don't drive after drinking, miss work, or fight with my wife. My life is good. Why should I stop?" A viewer sent us that, and in this episode of Defend Your Drinking, one of us argues his side while the other three challenge it. Along the way, you'll hear how to tell if your drinking is a problem even when everything in your life looks fine: why "most nights" is closer to every night than it sounds, why "my wife hasn't said anything" is a low bar to set, what the criteria clinicians look at really are (loss of control, repeated attempts to cut back, drinking despite consequences, neglecting responsibilities, cravings, and withdrawal, not just how many drinks you have), and how to ask yourself what the drinking is actually for. We also get into whether you can have a problem with drinking without being an alcoholic, what your kids are learning from what they see, and one simple question to put to yourself: can you stop for 30 days? None of this is a diagnosis, and if you're worried about your drinking, talk to a doctor or someone you trust before making changes. If you drink and think it's making your life better, put your argument in the comments, and yours could be the next one we take on. If you want to quit drinking, hit us up and we'll do it with you. Subscribe to SoberBoyz for weekly conversations on sobriety, recovery, and living a clean life.