About a third of Australian’s drink alcohol at harmful levels. If you’re reading this article on the train and sharing a bench with two other passengers, odds are that one of you is hitting the bottle more than you should. But is it you?
It’s a good question without an easy answer. If you’re under 18, research says any alcohol will damage your still growing brain and we’ve known for a long time that drinking while pregnant has big risks for baby. For adults, the national guidelines say no more than four standard drinks in one session and no more than ten standard drinks over seven days. At best it’s a just a guestimate that doesn’t account for your sex, age or weight.
Don’t get me wrong, counting your drinks is a good start and definitely gives you some insight into your drinking habits. But let’s be honest, if you’re pouring your own drinks at home you’re not relying on a measuring glass.
We measure addition by negative consequences. The harm you’re doing to your body is one thing, but you also have to look at the damage your drinking has and is doing to your relationships, your career, your reputation, your bank balance. While they can be easily ignored, the negative consequences of your drinking grow over time, building one on top of the other.
To help you assess your drinking, Straight Talk Australia Counselling has developed a simple guide, ten direct questions to give you some straight answers about your drinking.