problem drinker

problem drinker

A person who drinks alcohol despite knowing that overuse causes physical, psychological and social problems, while the criteria for alcohol dependence are not met.
Problem drinker criteria 
• 5+ alcoholic drinks on any one occasion at least once/month—“heavy drinking” ;
• One or more alcohol-related social consequences—e.g., drink-driving, public drunkenness arrests, alcohol-related criminal arrests, traffic or other accidents when drinking, confrontations about alcohol-related health problems by a medical practitioner, alcohol-related family or on-the-job problems;
• One or more symptoms of alcohol dependence—e.g., having an alcoholic drink upon awakening, shaking hands, memory loss of events that occurred while drinking.

problem drinker

Substance abuse A person who meets 2 of the 3 criteria in the last 12 months, for alcoholics. See Alcohol, Binge drinking. Cf Social drinker. Problem drinker
5+ alcoholic drinks on any one occasion at least once/month–'heavy drinking' One or more alcohol-related social consequences–eg, drunk-driving, public drunkenness arrests, alcohol-related criminal arrests, traffic or other accidents when drinking, confrontations about alcohol-related health problems by a medical practitioner, alcohol-related family or on-the-job problems One or more symptoms of alcohol dependence–eg, having an alcoholic drink upon awakening–an 'eye-opener', shaking hands, awakening not remembering the events that occurred while drinking JAMA 1992; 268:1872oc