You’re Drinking WAY Too Much [7 OBVIOUS Signs]

So you’re a fan of a good drink—who isn’t? Whether it’s celebrating a big win or just unwinding after a long day, alcohol has a way of making life a little more fun. But sometimes, amidst the clinking of glasses and the merry cheer, it’s easy to slip into the habit of drinking too much. How can you tell if your occasional tipple has turned into a more regular affair?

Read on to find out if your drinking habits are stepping into the “uh-oh” zone.

1. Your Fridge Looks Like a Mini Bar

You know you’re in deep when your fridge is filled with a selection that rivals the local pub. It starts innocently enough: a bottle of wine here, a six-pack of beer there. But before you know it, your fridge has transformed into a mini bar, with an assortment of spirits, mixers, and garnishes taking up prime real estate.

You might even have a special drawer just for cocktail shakers and muddles. Your friends could use your kitchen as a reference guide for the best cocktails in town. When your grocery list has started including things like “lime wedges” and “maraschino cherries” on a regular basis, it might be time to take a step back and consider if you’re hosting a daily happy hour in your own home.

Last week, I had a friend who proudly announced, “I’m a minimalist!” Yet, when I opened their fridge, I found a complex array of alcohol that would make a bartender blush. They had so many mixers, I half expected to see a cocktail recipe on their grocery list!

2. You Have a Personal “Drink-a-Day” Calendar

Remember when you used to keep track of events with a regular calendar? You might still do that, but now you’ve got a more pressing concern: your “Drink-a-Day” calendar. This isn’t just about remembering that Friday is for martinis and Saturday is for tequila; no, this is an actual calendar, meticulously marked with what drinks you enjoyed on which days.

If you’re finding yourself in an elaborate spreadsheet or an app dedicated to tracking your daily tipples, you might be taking your alcohol consumption a bit too seriously. Your calendar isn’t supposed to look like a bingo card filled with beer mugs, wine glasses, and cocktail shakers!

I saw a movie one time where this guy had so many different drinking days marked on their calendar that it looked like an advent calendar for alcoholics. “Look!” they said, pointing proudly, “I’m a beer connoisseur!” The only problem was that it was mid-August and their calendar was already full until the end of the year.

3. Your Social Media Feed is an Alcoholic’s Dream

Remember when your social media was filled with pictures of sunsets, pets, or vacations? If your feed is now dominated by shots of you with different cocktails and captions like, “Cheers to Friday!” or “Found the best margarita in town!”—you might be overdoing it.

When your Instagram looks more like a drink menu than a personal scrapbook, it’s a sign that you’re documenting your every sip for the world to see. If your friends know you better as “that person who’s always drinking something fabulous” than by your actual name, it’s time to reassess.

A former highschool classmate of mine turned their Instagram into a virtual drink diary. Every day, it was a new cocktail creation with hashtags like #ThirstyThursday and #MargaritaMonday. I started calling them “The Bartender” because it seemed like their life was one long happy hour!

4. You’ve Developed an Intense Relationship with Your Liquor Cabinet

Once upon a time, your liquor cabinet was just a modest collection of spirits. Now, it’s practically a shrine. You’ve got top-shelf whiskey, rare liqueurs, and even limited-edition vodkas. The cabinet is organized like a museum exhibit, complete with labels and a guidebook of your collection.

You know you’re in the danger zone when you’ve started giving your liquor cabinet a name and have conversations with it. “Oh, Mr. Bourbon, you’re looking particularly fine today!” If you’ve invested in a bar cart, stocked it with every conceivable mixer, and given it prime placement in your living room, you might be leaning a little too heavily into your drinking habits.

I have a friend who calls their liquor cabinet “The Emporium of Elixirs.” They’ve even gone so far as to name their bottles. The gin is “Ginny,” the bourbon is “Bobby,” and the tequila is “Tina.” It’s like a cast of characters waiting for their moment in the spotlight. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cabinet started demanding its own reality show!

5. Your Kitchen Counter Looks Like a Liquor Store? You’re drinking too much.

If your kitchen counter has morphed into a mini liquor store, with bottles of various spirits, mixers, and garnishes neatly arranged like a well-stocked bar, you might be drinking too much. It starts innocently enough—with a bottle of wine here and a six-pack of beer there. But soon, your countertop resembles a bartender’s paradise.

When your grocery runs include stocking up on not just food but also an impressive array of alcoholic beverages, you might need to pause and reconsider. If you’re finding that your countertops have less room for actual food than for your growing collection of spirits, it’s a sign that you might be drinking too much. Remember, a well-stocked bar should complement, not dominate, your kitchen space.

I once visited a friend whose kitchen counter was so laden with bottles that I half expected a “Happy Hour” sign to be hanging above it. They had more varieties of gin than I had ever seen, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the fridge had room left for anything that wasn’t alcoholic. If your kitchen looks like it’s auditioning for a reality show about home bars, you might want to reassess your drinking habits.

6. Daily Outfit Includes a Drink Holder? You’re drinking too much.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where a drink holder has become as essential to your daily outfit as your shoes? If you’re using a koozie to keep your beer cold while running errands or carrying a cocktail in a travel tumbler like it’s your trusty sidekick, you might be drinking too much.

When your choice of apparel includes pockets designed specifically for holding drinks or when your friends start questioning if you’re actually part of a “Drink-and-Drive” team (metaphorically speaking, of course), it’s time to take a step back. No one should need a drink holder as a daily accessory—unless you’re starring in a comedic sketch about drinking too much.

One neighbour I had got himself a specially designed vest with built-in pockets for holding various types of alcohol. It was like a Swiss Army knife of drinking! They wore it everywhere, and I started to wonder if they were secretly training for a role in a “Drinkers’ Olympics.” If your daily gear includes drink-holding features, your drinking habits might be running a bit rampant.

7. You’ve Created an Elaborate Drink Chart? You’re drinking too much.

Ever find yourself with a meticulously organized chart detailing your daily drink intake? If you’ve made it a hobby to track each drink you consume, with notes on taste, pairing, and your level of inebriation, you might be drinking too much. This chart could be on your phone, a spreadsheet, or even a physical notebook.

When tracking your drinks becomes a personal project rather than a casual observation, it’s a clear indication that your drinking habits are becoming a bit more involved than they should be. Your chart should be less detailed and more casual—if you’re crafting a detailed drink log, you might be overindulging.

One friend of mine had a drink chart that looked like a tax return. They had columns for type of drink, time consumed, and even a “hangover level” rating. I asked if they were planning to submit it to the IRS! If your drink tracking resembles a complex financial report, you might want to re-evaluate your alcohol consumption.

8. You Have a Drink-Related Nickname

If you’ve picked up a nickname because of your drinking habits, such as “Beer Baron” or “Wine Warden,” it might be a sign that you’re drinking too much. This isn’t just about casual nicknames; it’s when your drinking persona becomes so well-known that even your friends have catchy names for you.

When your reputation precedes you as “the person who always has a drink in hand,” it might be a playful indication that you’ve gone a bit overboard. Your nickname should reflect your personality, not your drinking habits. If your friends are calling you by a drink-related moniker more often than your actual name, it’s worth considering a little moderation.

9. You’re on First-Name Terms with Your Local Bartender

If you’re on a first-name basis with every bartender in town and they know your regular order by heart, it’s a surefire sign you’re drinking too much. Your bar tabs might have their own file at your favorite watering hole, and the staff might even ask if you want “the usual” before you’ve even sat down.

When your local bartender knows you so well that they can predict your next drink without you saying a word, it might be time to take a step back. Being a regular can be fun, but when it becomes routine to the point of familiarity, it’s a hint that your drinking habits might need to be reassessed.

If you’re getting personalized drink service, it’s time to reconsider if you’re drinking too much.

10. Your “Hangover Cure” Has Its Own Section in Your Kitchen

When your kitchen has an entire section dedicated to hangover remedies—think special teas, electrolyte drinks, and an array of antacids—you might be drinking too much. If your grocery list includes items specifically for recovering from a night of overindulgence, it’s a strong indicator that your drinking habits could be getting out of hand.

When your hangover cure becomes more elaborate than the actual meals you prepare, it’s worth evaluating your alcohol consumption. Your kitchen should be stocked for general health and nutrition, not exclusively for recovering from a binge.

If your remedies outnumber your groceries, you might need to look at your drinking habits more closely.

Wrapping It Up

In the end, everyone deserves to enjoy a drink or two, but when you notice these whimsical signs creeping into your life, it might be time to take a breather. Remember, it’s all about balance and enjoying life’s pleasures in moderation. Keep the fun going, but maybe ease up on the calendar marking and Instagram posting.

If you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios, don’t worry—it’s all in good fun! Life’s too short not to enjoy a good drink, but it’s also too short not to keep things in check. Cheers to knowing when to enjoy and when to take a break. Here’s to living a balanced, fun, and fabulous life!