Paying careful attention to the body s reaction to the alcohol ingested. Understanding safe limits and responsibly staying within those limits. It is suspected that some people have a natural chemical intolerance for alcohol, just as others have a chemical intolerance for caffeine, wheat, milk, or sugar. Other contributing factors include peer pressure, cultural sanctions of alcohol use, and states such as depression or anxiety. About 1 in 10 drinkers become dependent on alcohol.
Some drinkers are susceptible to alcohol dependence from the first drink.
Others go through stages of alcohol use, alcohol abuse, and finally alcohol dependence. The first stage, alcohol use, implies social drinking. Social drinkers use alcohol without significant mood swings. They also do not develop cravings for the drug. This stage does not imply a drinking problem.