You could have little-known condition AUD if you struggle to only have one glass of wine

Many of us love to enjoy a cheeky glass of wine when the opportunity presents itself, though not all of us find it simple to stop at just one.

With the festive season now fast approaching, many of us are bracing ourselves to consume even more alcohol than we usually do.

While struggling to curb our drinking has often been referred to as alcoholism, experts have suggested that our unwillingness to stop at a single drink may well be a result of something else entirely.

It may be down to Alcohol Use Disorder - also referred to as AUD, and is understood to be something of a grey area between problematic drinking habits and full blown alcoholism.

Alcoholism and AUD are two different issues (Getty Stock Image)

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH) defines AUD as: "A medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences."

They continue: "Considered a brain disorder, AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe. Lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse perpetuate AUD and make individuals vulnerable to relapse."

AUD sits in contrast to alcoholism, which as per the NHS, is when 'someone loses control over their drinking and has an excessive desire to drink.'

Sir Ian Gilmore, Professor of Hepatology at the University of Liverpool as well as the chair of Alcohol Health Alliance UK, told The Times: "Alcohol-use disorder sits on a spectrum, and people who have it don’t necessarily drink every day and can go for weeks without a drink.

There are a number of symptoms to look out for (Getty Stock Image)

"Because it’s on a spectrum it can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the number of boxes you tick on the symptom list."

The American Psychiatric Association suggests that the following symptoms suggest you may suffer from AUD.

• Drinking more alcohol or over a longer period than originally intended.
• Unsuccessfully trying to cut down or control alcohol use.
• Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol. (Wanting a drink so much it’s difficult to think of anything else)
• Drinking that interferes with responsibilities at home, at work, or at school.
• Continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems with family and friends.
• Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use.
• Repeatedly using alcohol in physically hazardous situations.
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol (needing more alcohol to get the same effect).
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, restlessness, nausea, or sweating after stopping or reducing drinking.

AUD is likely to run in families accordint to an expert (Getty Stock Image)

Gilmore adds that AUD often runs in families, explaining: "It never ceases to amaze me in both clinical practice and socially how often a parent, sibling or offspring is also affected. We even see it in identical twin studies where the twins have been separated at birth."

Further, Gilmore points to the culture of drinking in the United Kingdom.

He adds: "It’s hard to imagine a celebration in the UK without alcohol at its core.

"Meanwhile, we tend to sideline those who don’t drink, believing them to be killjoys, and have a heroic attitude towards drinking. Even binge drinking is completely normalised."

As for the ways in which to spot whether you're suffering from AUD, Gilmore poses the questions: "Is it interfering with your home life? Are you underperforming at work? Do you make a fool of yourself on a Saturday night, swear never to do it again but do it again a few weeks later? Are you missing important events? Have you ever had an accident due to alcohol? If so, you might want to question your drinking habits.”

Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.

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