Here are the questions The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism most often receives about alcohol along with their answers. They provide information to better understand the health consequences of alcohol abuse and dependence (alcoholism). Consult your physician or health care provider if you or a loved one has an alcohol problem.
It depends. If that person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is "no." Alcoholics who try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol--that is, abstaining--is usually the best course for recovery. People who are not alcohol dependent but who have experienced alcohol-related problems may be able to limit the amount they drink. If they can't stay within those limits, they need to stop drinking altogether. (See Question 13 which addresses the issue, "What is a safe level of drinking?")