Count any drink that contains alcohol: beer, wine, spirits, cider, and mixed drinks all count.
A standard drink is about 10 g of pure alcohol: one small glass of wine (125 ml, 12%), one can of regular beer (330 ml, 5%), or one measure of spirits (25 ml, 40%).
Six or more drinks in one sitting is considered heavy episodic (binge) drinking regardless of your usual pattern.
Examples: missing work, skipping family commitments, failing to meet deadlines.
A "morning drink to steady yourself" is a classic sign of physical dependence.
Alcohol-related memory blackouts (not just forgetting small details) indicate harmful consumption.
Include any injury to yourself or another person - accidents, falls, fights, or medical emergencies linked to alcohol.