(Why) is Whisky addictive?

Excellent question @Jules. I think it is probably that it just tastes so damn good. That and the euphoric mood altering effect makes it, at least habituating if not all out addictive. I used to drink quite a lot of beer and wine with the occasional Scotch. Now I drink very little wine and beer and quite a bit of Scotch.

My wife and I make January an alcohol free month every year partly just to prove to ourselves that we can do it, and partly to clean up our act after the excesses of Xmas/New Year. It also means no potato chips another bad habit/addiction. Moderation in all things is usually the best and safest policy. Cheers.

There is nothing special about whisky that makes it more "addictive" than any other pleasant food or drink, alcohol aside. I find myself "addicted" to chocolate, certain candies, etc... If I don't start, I'm fine. But if I do, it's all "moreish".

The taste of (good) whisky can easily make you want another, and another. I've certainly noticed this to the point where I'll occasionally want a second dram, or if I happen to have the time, a dram on successive days. The more often I have a good dram, the more I'm looking forward to the next one. I agree that in and of itself it has nothing to do with the alcohol.

The difference between whisky and other things (like chips or chocolate) is the withdrawal effect. If you have chips for a month and then quit you may miss them, but there is no physical dependence.

If you drink steadily for a long time you develop a physical dependence on alcohol. It is not just the psychological "missing" of the taste, but a withdrawal that can make you so sick you wind up in hospital. And it has nothing to do with "alcoholism".

My certification exam in Internal Medicine actually included a case of post-op delirium which ended up being due to alcohol withdrawal. It's not uncommon for someone for a surgical procedure to get delirious from alcohol withdrawal on day 2-3 post-op, if they have a history of even one or two drinks a day.

This is probably a very complex issue. Dependency aside, I think there are a lot of modifiable factors that influence purchasing and consumption of whisky. I would suggest that enjoyment of, craving for, purchasing and drinking of whisky are all increased the more involvement you have in sites like this one or allthingswhisky.com because we are vicariously tasting far more than we have, and then going out and looking for it ourselves. My 30% increase in bottles last year was, I am sure, related directly and indirectly to connosr.

1. Directly: I received a message on this site informing me of a deep reduction in the price of Amrut single cask. Without that I would not have bought up a few (and I would have opened one to celebrate the find).

2. Indirectly: I read about stuff and am motivated to find it and try it or stock up on it.

@BlueNote, I like the idea of an alcohol-free month. I believe that one of our "family" did that in November. To say I've been off alcohol since my tasting on Jan 3 would be a little too much because it's only three days, but my intention has been to not consume alcohol for the rest of the month (to Feb 3 actually), and to replace the time I sit with a dram and watch something online with walking the treadmill (and watching online). I don't think I am prepared to cut off chips. I don't eat them often, but if my wife brings them home...

SO a happy healthy new year to all, may you enjoy your whisky to its fullest at your own discretion.

Thank you @Nozinan, very informative.

Regardless of the bio mechanics I think @bluenote said it best - moderation is key!

Good comments all. I guess it is not down to any specific compound, but more an 'associative' habituation - if you enjoy something, especially something alcoholic, then you will associate it with pleasure thus craving more. It goes without saying that moderation is key when it comes to the elixir we love.

I echo Bluenote's experience in that I have tended to replace my previous beer and wine intake with Scotch, this along with plenty of other interests and a 3 day 'no drink' zone each week are my own way of keeping things healthy - this is however a balance that everyone needs to figure out for themselves.

As with all 'guilty pleasures' in life the key is that YOU control and consume them to enhance your quality of life - not BE controlled to your own detriment.

@Nozinan. I hope you make it through the month. We might have to stay off the whisky sites for a while too. That's where a lot of the temptation comes from. As for the chips; yeah, that's a toughie. Maybe just a bag or two on weekends.

Thanks for pointing out that alcohol can easily go beyond habit to addiction.

@Jules. You make a very good point in your last paragraph. Cheers.

@BlueNote

I think staying off the whisky sites is more difficult than staying off the whisky.

I already have things that often prevent me from drinking, like being on call or having to drive or looking after kids, etc... but none of those things are contraindications to reading about whisky. So I check out the sites almost daily.

I agree and have argued that the sites probably contribute to more purchasing and consumption of whisky. At the same time, it would be good to see if I can go a month DESPITE the added encouragement.

We'll see how I feel about it next week...