What Percentage of Alcoholics Become Normal Drinkers?

Is it worth the risk to try moderate drinking again?

Photo by Declan Sun on Unsplash

I don’t drink now and haven’t for several years.

I have heard people ask: Will you ever drink again? Can someone who had an alcohol problem become a normal drinker?

My Story

For me, I reached a point where I admitted I had a problem- alcohol use disorder — or alcoholism.

My drinking caused me problems — with relationships, jobs, and life in general.

But I also liked drinking. It was relaxing and and a way to calm my mind. It seemed to help me in social settings.

My initial thought upon attending some recovery meetings: This is some good stuff, and I’ll use it, but also probably return to drinking “normally” again.

Then, though, I heard people saying: “Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.” Extolling the virtues of a completely alcohol-free life.

I couldn’t imagine this.

But the reality was, my life kept getting better the further away I was from my last drink.

I’d tried stopping before — but never really went “all-in” on abstinence from alcohol.