Is your loved one drinking too much?

Moderate Drinking:

Equal to or less than two drinks a day for men and equal to or less than one drink a day for women.

Heavy Drinking:

More than 14 drinks per week or 4 drinks at one sitting for men and more than seven drinks a week or three drinks at one sitting for women. (Drinking over this amount puts a person at risk for adverse health events.)

Hazardous Drinking:

Hazardous drinking is an average consumption of 21 drinks or more per week for men (or 7 or more drinks per occasion at least 3 times a week) and 14 or more drinks per week for women (or more than 5 drinks per occasion at least 3 times a week). Hazardous drinking is considered to place individuals at risk for adverse health events.

Alcohol Abuse:

One or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a period of one year: failure to fulfill work or personal obligations; recurrent use in potentially dangerous situations; problems with the law; and continued use in spite of harm being done to social or personal relationships.

Alcohol Dependence:

The individual experiences three or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a period of one year: increased amounts of alcohol needed to produce an effect; withdrawal symptoms or drinking alcohol to avoid these symptoms; drinking more over a given period than intended; unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut down; giving up significant leisure or work activities; continuing drinking in spite of the knowledge of its physical or psychological harm to oneself or others.