In any random group of 100 adults, we can expect 60 to be drinkers. Some will drink rarely and some will drink frequently. The estimate is that every alcoholic directly affects four immediate family members and indirectly affects another 10 beyond. These 14 people include family, friends, colleagues and customers. A common misperception is that alcoholics drink all the time.
Some alcoholics do drink all the time.
Some drink infrequently but heavily. Some fluctuate between drinking in a social way and losing control. Some only drink once in awhile but when they do, they get into trouble. Some only drink on weekends. It is not always easy to distinguish between alcoholics, heavy drinkers, alcohol abusers and social drinkers.