Social Drinking Could Mask Alcoholism, or Provoke Problem Drinking

Although research tends to emphasize isolated alcoholics, people who routinely abuse alcohol in public are equally susceptible to addiction.

By Paul Smaglik
May 6, 2025 8:30 PMMay 6, 2025 8:34 PM
Alcoholism risk
(Image Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock)

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Social drinking can sit on the slippery slope to alcoholism. People — and culture — can sometimes intertwine solitary drinkers with addiction. However, alcoholism often starts out when drinking among others, according to a review article in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

“Evidence for the centrality of social motives in problem drinking surround us,” according to the article. “While solitary drinking might serve as a useful early indicator of alcohol use disorder risk […] research suggests that individuals reliably consume more alcohol in social contexts than when alone.”

More Emphasis on Isolated Drinking

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