if you like a drink you're an alcoholic???

that's only addressing the toxic effect on a body. It has nothing to do with dependency issues.

Like sports. My father is an extreme sports fanatic and I surely know the definition of extreme. I think he is addicted to mountain climbing - I KNOW he is addicted. His extreme sports enthusiasm has impacted all aspects of his life, yet, nobody would fault him for it because sports is considered 'healthy' and not a drug, though to me he still has dependency issues.

Somebody who is a mild alcoholic may not lose his/her job over it and it probably doesn't obviously impact their life, but that person may still have dependency issues. The mere fact that one can go without drink for a certain period of time does not mean that that person does not have a dependency issue.

Dry alcoholics are still alcoholics.

People who are drug addicts will always be drug addicts, whether or not they have a habit at the moment or not.

The fundamental issues remain the same, regardless of health matters.

That's because I already addressed dependency. I had moved on to excess.

Basically, we agree. We just arrive there differently.

I find that very hard to believe.

In fact, I think that MOST people over the age of 25 could check off at least 5 of these items. Ever prayed to the porcelan god and vowed to never drink again? (5) Check! Ever called in sick due to a massive hangover, or not been as productive at work due to a hangover? (1) Check! Ever went to a bar or got drunk after you had a very rough day or some other troubles? (15) Check! Ever not been able to recall all the events from last night due to having had too many drinks? (17) Check! As an adult living alone, you will probably at some point drink alone (if only having wine with dinner). (16)

Most people have had these occurences in their lives and I am not saying that makes them an alcoholic (hence I said the questionaire was a bit harsh).

:P too fast for me

Everyone who drinks alcohol on a somewhat regular basis, equal how much or how often, is theoretically considered an alcoholic. Although this is not what the term means to the general public. As far as I remember there are 3 or 4 levels of alcoholism, with what I described above being the 1st level that is not seen as pathological. In fact, measured consumption can be a good thing for your body.

That questionnaire is a pile of poo! According to the interpretation of results an 80 year old man/woman who got hammered when they were 20 to the point they couldn't remember things and then gave up drink, not having touched the stuff for 60 years "may still be an alcoholic"!?!?

I ticked off three personally and never ever drink to get drunk!

And I disagree with spunkywho - yes, it may be a disease with symptoms but measurement of alcoholism is subjective and thus based on different people's interpretation of what alcoholism is and what it takes to become an alcoholic. There is no definitive list of attributes that characterise alcoholism and the symptoms you outlined are themselves open to subjectivity also.

Referring back to what the opinion of the guy Jim outlined was though; everyone's had chocolate at some point in their lives - does that make them chocoholics? I think not! Many people eat chocolate for the high energy-releasing effects it has, others for the taste - there is no one reason as to why genuine chocholics are addicted though.