He doesn't drink during the week. Having one day off in midweek, she developed the drinking pattern of becoming intoxicated only on Thursdays when she was at home alone, and not drinking the rest of the week. On that day, she would drink a pint or more of vodka. Finally, and I believe inevitably, she began to drink secretly at other times until she finally entered treatment for alcoholism, which she had indeed developed. A truer test of alcoholic drinking is there ability to control the drinking once it begins.
Many alcoholics also show no work interference from their drinking.
But periods of unexplained absence or behavior change could be a clue. Questions will be selected on the basis of general relevance and will be posted once a month. Click here to submit your question. If your question is selected, you will be notified. Disclaimer Dr. Bob does not provide specific medical advice or a medical diagnosis for any particular condition described, nor verify the authenticity of any information described in the questions presented.