What does addiction look like to you?

It's an interesting concept when for example the NHS says for alcohol
keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. if you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread your drinking evenly over 3 or more days.
Which is basically 14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.

So using that as a guide how would you determine an addiction?

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MarkRichardson · 46-50, M

That's more a guideline for 'healthy' drinking rather than anything else. Alcohol, specific types anyways and in moderation, is good for the body. It's when we go over the top and it is a daily requirement, I think, then it becomes an addiction.

My wife was a heavy drinker from the age of around 14 onwards. That, alongside drugs. But she was what would be defined as a 'functional addict' until, I would say, she hit her 30's. Then it gradually became more and more of an issue and a need.

Those inbetween years I didn't see as addiction. She was fun and happy and enjoying life. Those qualities I didn't necessarily process as being part of the addiction.

But I think they were.