Alcoholism: how much is too much?
Almost everyone drinks. But for some people, alcohol no longer has anything to do with pleasure. In Switzerland, around 250,000 people are alcohol dependent or at high risk of alcohol dependence. At what point does alcohol become an addiction and how can you prevent it?
We can always find a reason to drink, be it prosecco to make a toast, a beer while watching football, mulled wine at the Christmas market and a glass of wine to talk, enjoy and relax. For many people, alcohol is a part of everyday life, which is why it is considered socially acceptable despite the potential for addiction. Patrick Jola, head of communication/fundraising at Blaues Kreuz, says: “Drinking alcohol is deeply embedded in our culture, which makes it difficult for many people not to drink. For example, people give you a strange look if you turn down a glass of prosecco at a party.”
When is alcohol harmful?
How much alcohol is too much? We asked Arlette Reinmann Rudolf, psychotherapist and head of counselling at Blaues Kreuz Zürich: “Women should drink no more than one standard glass (12 g) of pure alcohol a day, men no more than two standard glasses (24 g). Any more than that is considered a health risk.”
These upper limits have been defined by the Swiss Alcohol Commission on the basis of medical studies. This does not mean, however, that it is okay to drink one or two glasses of wine as part of your daily routine. You should have at least two alcohol-free days a week.
People often drink more than the recommended amount at parties. But even then, men shouldn’t drink more than five standard glasses and women more than four. “The brain gets used to alcohol and the good feeling that it triggers in the reward circuits,” explains Reinmann Rudolf. The problem with drinking alcohol regularly, she says, is that your body increasingly needs more to achieve the same effect. A dangerous precedence.
“People often give you a strange look if you turn down a glass of prosecco at a party.”
Am I addicted?
The lines are blurred. Alongside the classic case of severe alcoholism when a person is fully dependent on alcohol, there are many other problematic types of alcohol consumption. Some people may not drink at all during the week, but regularly binge drink at the weekends, blacking out and not being able to remember chunks of time, and embarrassing themelves. Signs and symptoms of an alcohol use disorder include:
- A strong desire to drink alcohol and not being able to limit how much alcohol is consumed
- Losing interest in hobbies
- Unable to stop drinking even though they know it is causing harm
Psychotherapist Reinmann Rudolf refers to the guiding principle of the Swiss Alcohol Commission: “High-risk consumption can be described as: too often, too much, at the wrong time.”
If someone addresses the topic of alcohol consumption with you, you should take it seriously, because the hurdle to do so is high for outsiders, as alcohol is generally well accepted. And you should ask yourself why you drink. If alcohol serves a function (e.g. I drink to calm my nerves or to round off the day), this is another indication that something isn’t right.
The way out of addiction: therapy and relapse
In the past, people who couldn’t control their alcohol consumption were thought of as weak-willed, but nowadays it is seen as a disease that accompanies those affected their whole lives. “Addiction results from a combination of biological, psychological and social factors that all need to be addressed,” says Arlette Reinmann Rudolf. That’s where addiction counselling and therapy comes in. “As a rule for people who have been addicted to alcohol over several years, treatment involves withdrawal in an inpatient unit followed by therapy with outpatient after-care. Self-help groups also prove effective in helping people to stay sober.”
However, there is a high risk of relapse, with estimates and studies putting the figure at between 70% and 90%. “Recovery from addiction should be seen as a marathon rather than a sprint,” says Reinmann Rudolf. People who seek support tend to have a better chance of recovery.
“Any kind of alcohol can trigger a relapse. Even if it’s in liqueur chocolates or cooked into a sauce.”
Never again?
Can people who suffer from an alcohol use disorder have an occasional drink or eat a liqueur chocolate? Better not, because the smell of alcohol can trigger memories of the addiction in many people in recovery from alcohol. And you have to be careful, because alcohol can even be found in food. “Any kind of alcohol can trigger a relapse,” warns Arlette Reinmann Rudolf. There is no cure. “Many people in recovery from an alcohol use disorder would like to be able to drink in moderation. But this is very rare. If you relapse again and again when trying to drink in moderation, it’s worth taking a longer break from alcohol. Many people notice then that they feel better and opt for a life entirely without alcohol.”
Prevention: what helps?
Of course, it is better to raise awareness, educate, promote other activities and encourage good friendships before an addiction problem arises (see box), particularly at a young age when people experience alcohol for the first time. Rudolf says: “Effective prevention at a young age has proven successful.” It is also a good idea to limit access to alcohol and ensure it is not readily available. That’s why Blaues Kreuz regularly carries out test purchases to ensure that alcohol isn’t being sold to minors.
Sanitas Foundation: Committed to moderate alcohol consumption
“Addiction prevention is an important part of addressing the ever-present risk of alcohol,” says Andrea Gerfin, project manager at the Sanitas Foundation. “With alcohol it is particularly important that young people learn about moderation. They have to understand that alcohol is not an effective way of coping with difficulties.” The Foundation supports charitable projects in the area of health promotion and prevention that use new digital methods to reach people. Some examples in the area of alcohol prevention: