Okay, so we may have our own definitions for “moderate drinking” and other such terms but it turns out that the WHO (World Health Organization) developed a lexicon of definitions for terms concerning alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. We’re going to restrict ourselves to certain terms regarding alcohol consumption patterns. So, are you a light drinker, a social drinker, a moderate drinker or a heavy drinker? You have to keep in mind that alcohol affects men and women differently(insert link) Here are the three main patterns that we think cover almost everyone (the WHO doesn’t have a definition for “light drinking” but uses “moderate” instead):
Social drinking: “More prescriptively, the use of alcoholic beverages in compliance with social custom, primarily in the company of others, and then only for socially acceptable reasons and in socially acceptable ways.” For example, you only drink when you out for social occasions and only when other people are drinking.
Moderate drinking: “An inexact term for a pattern of drinking that is by implication contrasted with “heavy drinking. It denotes drinking that is moderate in amount and does not cause problems.” Moderate, or light, drinking is generally defined as no more than 4 drinks for men and 3 drinks for women in a single day. It can also be considered that regular light drinking (drinking almost every day) of less than 14 drinks per week for men and less than 9 drinks per week for women. Moderate drinking also implies that the speed at which you drink is controlled so as to keep your BAC under control.
Heavy drinking: “Episodic and habitual, where excessive drinking includes relatively brief bouts of excessive consumption of alcohol occurring at least a few times a year. These bouts may last several days or weeks. Habitual excessive drinking includes regular consumption of quantities of alcohol large enough to be detrimental to the individual’s health or social functioning.