How Do You Defend Yourself Against Wrongful Accusations of Being Alcoholic?
Question by Lady Paganel: How do you defend yourself against wrongful accusations of being alcoholic?
I’ve been drunk for fun a few times this summer–I am a college student who never drank in high school, and I am just now learning my limits. However, my getting drunk alone is leading some people to worry that I have a “problem” with alcohol.
I am not dependent on alcohol. I don’t have cravings, I don’t get withdrawal symptoms–in fact, after a night of particularly heavy drinking, the LAST thing I want is another drink. My drinking has had no effect on my education, family, etc. The only way it has harmed relationships is that I feel like certain people distrust me and are constantly scrutinizing me for signs of alcoholism, which makes me feel nervous around them.
There is a lot of paranoia about alcohol consumption these days. In the case of people who actually DO have problems with alcohol and are legitimately endangering themselves, this paranoia is good, even life-saving. But it does much more harm than good when it comes to people who drink, but don’t have a problem with drinking.
Thanks to all the paranoia, as soon as someone suspects you are alcoholic, you are backed into a corner. Honest attempts to defend yourself from this very serious accusation are chalked up to “denial.” People refuse to take your own perspective on your behavior seriously, which is rather condescending. Being falsely labeled alcoholic lead to unwarranted feelings of guilt and shame; even greater problems can arise if one accepts the label and starts to live up to it.
How can I politely, convincingly tell the people who think I have problems with alcohol to bug off? I’ve had some perfectly fun nights ruined because these people made me feel scared and guilty the whole time.
Best answer:
Answer by No! One Nose
You don’t need to drink alcohol to have fun. If people accuse you of people an alcoholic the only way to prove it is to stop drinking. If you find that hard and cannot do without it then you know you have a problem and they were right.
Alcoholism is a dependence on drink and many alcohlics don’t get “drunk” neither does their drinking have an affect on their work. What makes them an alcoholic is the fact they cannot live without the need for a drink.
You say you don’t have a problem. Great. Then stop drinking in front of these people.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!