What Does the Term 'Alcoholic' Mean? The term alcoholic refers to a person with a condition known as alcohol use disorder (AUD). The disorder makes a person who has it experience an intense desire for alcohol even when it adversely affects their health.
People with alcohol use disorder are unable to stop drinking alcohol. What is alcoholic addiction? Alcohol problems vary in severity from mild to life threatening and affect the individual, the person's family, and society in numerous adverse ways.
Alcoholism, excessive and repetitive drinking of alcoholic beverages to the extent that the drinker repeatedly is harmed or harms others. The harm typically involves a combination of physical, mental, and legal factors.