After a holiday season of big meals and frequent drinks, some people reach January and start questioning their relationship with alcohol. A heavy December does not automatically mean someone has an alcohol problem. Still, learning the warning signs can help you spot when drinking may be shifting from social to harmful.
Mental health advocate and recovering alcoholic Alastair Stewart has shared seven red flags he says often show up early. Writing on Instagram, he explained that alcoholism can begin quietly and look like “just social drinking,” until the mindset changes and the damage starts to build.
One key difference is control versus compulsion. Social drinkers can take alcohol or leave it. Stewart says addiction can feel like a pull you cannot switch off. Another sign is occasional versus obsessive drinking, such as thinking about the next drink before finishing the first.
Stewart also points to fun versus escape. If drinking becomes the go-to response to stress, pain, or difficult emotions, it may be serving as an escape rather than a choice. He adds stops versus excuses, where someone keeps finding reasons why “tonight doesn’t count.”
Over time, the impact can grow. Stewart warns that addiction may lead to slow destruction, affecting relationships, health, money, and trust. He also highlights choice versus dependence, where alcohol feels necessary to get through the day, and hidden versus honest behavior, such as hiding bottles or lying to others.
If these patterns feel familiar, it may be a sign to cut back and seek support.