There’s nothing wrong with the occasional drink to relax, unwind, or have fun. However, at what point does this cross the line into an unhealthy habit or even addiction? Sometimes the line is hard to find, and we often forget that it’s even there. Addiction sneaks up on us, as no one starts drinking with the intention to become an alcoholic. It’s important to monitor your time drinking, as there are some surefire ways to tell if you’re on a path leading towards alcoholism.

Habitual Drinking

If you’re under 65, but still have two to four drinks a day, you’re considered to be a heavy drinker. This doesn’t mean that you can have one or two drinks a day and be safe; on the contrary, daily drinking is still a massive risk, both in regards to your health and the potential to develop an addiction. Drinking continuously over a long period of time, even if it’s in small amounts, is dangerous. Your body will get used to the effects alcohol will have on it, and this can make it extremely hard to detox or achieve sobriety. However, continuous drinking isn’t the only thing that can foster a dependence.

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is just as dangerous, if not more so, than drinking over long periods of time. Someone is considered to be a binge drinker if they consume a great deal of alcohol in a short period of time. For men, this is roughly five drinks in under two hours, while for women binge drinking is considered four drinks within the same time. Binge drinking can have a serious and immediate impact on your health, and makes alcoholism much more likely.

If you find yourself doing one of these two things, ask yourself why. Do you drink to handle problems in your life, or to destress? Are you neglecting the rest of your responsibilities? If drinking is getting in the way of living your life, you might have a problem. When your first priority is drinking, it may be time to reconsider your habits and acknowledge that you may actually have a problem.