I don’t know if I’m a low key alcoholic or so cheap because in my past I was homeless and dependent on the charity of (sometimes) strangers and feel I only “deserve” alcohol when it’s on sale.
I know binge drinking is stupid, I know if I drink more than a pint of beer without food my stomach feels bad and I feel dizzy, but each time I find beer on sale I buy at least a 6 pack (6 pints). I then promise myself to drink it within several days, not all within 3 days, but something snaps in me each time I open the fridge and see all that beer. I sometimes drink 2 pints a day till I have no more beer.
The only thing stopping me from buying beer every day is the price: if beer is not on sale, I don’t buy it.
Beer is the only alcoholic drink I buy, I cannot tolerate anything else.
There are much healthier alternatives there, like tea, milk or juicy fruits, but my brain still associates beer with a good time, which is very ironic, because now, after drinking almost a pint, I have a headache. It doesn’t even taste as good as I thought it would.
Another thing that stops me from drinking more is reading about other alcoholics, their regrets and health issues, but my brain still “wants” the beer.
To be even more ironic, I usually run 2 miles and do some stretching and yoga before going to work, but yesterday and today I was so tired I skipped this routine and started drinking.
Am I a high functioning alcoholic?
How do I stop being so fixated on alcohol on sale?
I’m in no way qualified to judge whether this classifies as being an alcoholic. But I think you certainly have an unhealthy relationship to alcohol or at least beer. It’s not really “normal” (sorry, I don’t know how to phrase it better) to think so much about a beverage.
The same goes for food, actually. And at least there it doesn’t automatically equal excessive consumption, sometimes it’s the opposite, either anorexia or even focusing on a healthy diet. The point is that the healthy default state is to not obsess about it too much.
Out of curiosity, have you tried alcohol-free beer? There are really good ones out there and maybe trying some could help you determine whether it’s actually the alcohol or more the “beer equals good time” aspect that drives you.
I can second the alcohol free beers. The modern ones have excellent taste and hit the refreshing hoppy spot for me and are much better than juice or sodas when it comes to calories. I’m not totally dry, I drink 2-3 units a week, but I’m certainly feeling better for not having alcohol every day.