Q: I was under a lot of stress recently, so I have about three shots of vodka every night. How long will it be till I become a drunk?
A: If you can't throw out the bottle of vodka tonight and never take another drink, you're already across that line. Being an alcoholic has NOTHING to do with being drunk. It simply means that you don't control your drinking. There are a lot of healthy ways to relieve stress. Alcohol isn't one of them. You already know plenty of ways to relieve stress - take a walk, go for a run, ride a bike, do something physical, get a massage, take a yoga class, learn to meditate, read, go to a movie, go to church, go play with the dog. If you need alcohol to control stress, yes, you have a drinking problem. It's up to you to decide whether or not you're going to quit, or whether you need help to quit. No one can force you to do it. But you know it's a problem so now the responsibility is all on you.