Alcohol dependency seems to run in families. A person s environment, such as the influence of friends, stress levels and the ease of obtaining alcohol, may influence drinking. Social support, however, may protect even high risk people from alcohol problems. The biggest drinkers have always been in the unskilled manual group. The groups most at risk from alcohol dependence problems are those who drink fairly heavily or very heavily.
Drinkers can have a problem of low impulse control.
Researchers have suggested that lack of impulse control is not a personality deficiency as much as a lack of self-statements which inhibit behaviours. 10 People may relapse several times before overcoming their alcohol problem. This is a problem world wide. Up to one million people in the UK have their lives and health seriously damaged by alcohol. Alcohol abuse can occur from any age from childhood up, but the group which have most markedly exceeded the safe limit of 14 units weekly for women are 35 - 44 year old women.