Can You Be Addicted To Just Wine?
Medically Reviewed By: Manish Mishra, MBBS
Drinking a glass of wine at night with dinner, or after a long day at work, is not necessarily a drinking problem.
However, drinking alcohol every day can be a sign of alcohol use disorder (AUD), or lead to other health problems, especially if you’re drinking more than a single glass of wine every night.
Like other forms of alcohol, wine can be addictive if it is regularly consumed in large quantities. This can lead to alcohol dependence, addiction, and other associated health issues.
What Amount Of Wine Is Safe To Drink?
U.S. dietary guidelines for alcohol use recommend that adults of legal age limit their alcohol intake to one drink or less per day for women, or two drinks or less for men.
This is true regardless of the type of alcohol, e.g. beer, wine, or liquor.
A standard drink is equivalent to a 5-ounce glass of wine that contains 12 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
Why Does Alcohol By Volume Matter?
The alcohol content of wine, or its concentration of alcohol, can affect its strength, the effects of alcohol on the body, and the recommended serving size.
Is It Okay To Drink A Bottle Of Wine A Day?
Drinking a bottle of wine a day is excessive, according to federal dietary guidelines.
A standard bottle of wine contains 25.4 ounces of wine. That’s more than five times the maximum recommendation of wine consumption for women.
Drinking an entire bottle of wine a day by yourself could put you at risk for alcohol dependence and other health problems, like liver disease, associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
Does Drinking Wine Every Night Make You An Alcoholic?
Drinking a glass of wine every night doesn’t necessarily make you an “alcoholic.”
But it can be a sign of substance abuse. Moreover, binge drinking wine on a daily basis can increase your risk for certain health conditions and safety risks.
Alcohol-related health and safety risks of heavy drinking include:
- high blood pressure
- various cancers (including breast cancer)
- heart disease
- liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
- motor vehicle accidents
- sexual risk behaviors
- mental health problems
- violence
Can You Be Addicted Only To Wine?
It’s possible to become addicted to alcohol by drinking white or red wine alone. That is, alcohol addiction can develop even if you don’t drink other alcoholic beverages, like wine or spirits.
What Are Signs Of Alcoholism For Wine Drinkers?
Alcohol use disorder among wine drinkers can be identified by a number of changes in your behavior, physical health, your relationships with others, and mental health.
For instance, you may be exhibiting signs of a drinking problem if you:
- have made unsuccessful attempts to cut down on your substance use
- have frequent and persistent wine cravings
- find yourself drinking more alcohol to feel the same effects
- forgo activities you enjoy because it would interfere with your drinking habits
- continue to drink despite negative consequences to health, work, or relationships with others
- feel the need to lie about or hide the extent of your wine consumption
- experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
What Treatment Options Are Available For Wine Addiction?
Wine addiction is a serious issue that can affect your physical health, mental health, and livelihood — but it is treatable with the right treatment plan.
At Bedrock Recovery Center, our alcohol addiction treatment programs offer detoxification for alcohol withdrawal symptoms (detox) as part of a complete alcohol treatment plan.
Our inpatient/residential treatment programs for wine addiction include:
- individual and group counseling
- behavioral therapy
- medication management
- dual diagnosis
- holistic therapies (e.g. yoga, meditation)
- skills coaching
Our treatment center takes a whole-person approach to alcohol addiction that takes into account how your drinking can affect how you feel, think, and behave.
We also want to provide you with practical tools and strategies to help you or your loved one thrive in addiction recovery.
Get Help For Wine Addiction Today
For more information about Bedrock Recovery Center’s treatment options for wine addiction, call our helpline to speak with a treatment specialist today.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Alcohol Use and Health https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Facts about moderate drinking https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm
- U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) — Alcohol Facts and Statistics https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics