Dictionary
Understanding alcohol terms
Some alcohol-related words can feel confusing, clinical, or unfamiliar.
This dictionary explains common terms in plain language, so you can understand what they mean without feeling overwhelmed.
Common terms
12-Step Program
A mutual support approach to addiction recovery, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded in 1935.
AA Group
A self-funded group of people who meet regularly to support each other in recovery from alcohol use.
AA Member
A person who attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as part of their recovery.
Abstinence
Completely avoiding alcohol.
Abuser
Someone who uses alcohol in a way that is harmful to themselves or others.
Acamprosate (Campral)
A medication that can help support abstinence by reducing cravings and stabilising brain activity after stopping alcohol.
Acute alcohol withdrawal
Severe physical and psychological symptoms that can occur when someone suddenly stops heavy or long-term drinking.
Acute Care
Immediate medical treatment for serious symptoms, such as severe alcohol withdrawal.
Addict
A term sometimes used to describe someone with dependence on alcohol. It can feel stigmatising, so some people prefer “person with alcohol dependence.”
Addiction
A long-term condition involving compulsive alcohol use despite negative effects on health or life.
Addiction Counselor
A trained professional who supports people through recovery using counselling, guidance, and structured plans.
Aftercare
Ongoing support after detox or rehabilitation, such as follow-up appointments, counselling, or support groups.
Al-Anon
A support organisation for people affected by someone else’s drinking.
Alateen
A support group specifically for younger people affected by a family member’s drinking.
Alcohol
A substance found in drinks like beer, wine, and spirits that can affect mood, behaviour, and physical health.
Alcohol dependence
A condition where someone feels a strong need to drink and finds it difficult to stop despite harmful consequences.
Alcohol Use Disorder
A medical condition involving problematic alcohol use, ranging from mild to severe.
Alcoholic faces
Physical changes sometimes seen in long-term heavy drinking, such as a flushed or puffy face and visible blood vessels.
Alcoholic hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver caused by long-term alcohol use.
Alcohol-induced psychosis
A serious condition where heavy alcohol use leads to hallucinations or delusions.
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD)
A group of liver conditions caused by alcohol, including fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
Alcoholism
An older term for alcohol dependence, describing difficulty controlling drinking despite harm.
Anhedonia
A reduced ability to feel pleasure, which can happen during or after heavy alcohol use.
Ascites
A build-up of fluid in the abdomen, often linked to serious liver disease.
Asterixis
A flapping tremor of the hands, sometimes seen in advanced liver disease.
CAGE questionnaire
A short four-question screening tool used to identify possible alcohol problems (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener).
Campral
A medication (acamprosate) used to help reduce alcohol cravings and support abstinence.
CDT
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, a blood marker that can indicate sustained heavy drinking.
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
A prescribed medication often used during alcohol detox to help reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Cirrhosis
Severe scarring of the liver caused by long-term damage, often linked to alcohol use.
CIWA-Ar
A clinical scale used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Community Addiction Team (CAT)
A multidisciplinary NHS team that provides assessment, treatment, and support for substance use problems.
Delirium tremens (DTs)
A severe and potentially life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal that may include confusion, shaking, and hallucinations.
Denial
When someone finds it difficult to recognise or accept that alcohol is causing problems in their life.
Detoxification (Detox)
The process of safely removing alcohol from the body, often with medical support.
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
A medication that causes unpleasant physical reactions if alcohol is consumed, helping to discourage drinking.
Easy bruising
A tendency to bruise easily, sometimes linked to liver damage affecting blood clotting.
Emotional lability
Rapid or unpredictable changes in mood, which can be linked to alcohol use or withdrawal.
Enabling
When someone unintentionally makes it easier for another person to continue harmful drinking.
Ethanol
The type of alcohol found in drinks such as beer, wine, and spirits.
Extended brief interventions
Structured conversations over multiple sessions designed to help someone reduce their drinking.
Family interventions
Support and guidance offered to family members or carers affected by someone’s drinking.
FAST
The Fast Alcohol Screening Test, used in UK healthcare settings to assess drinking behaviour.
Fatty liver (steatosis)
An early and often reversible stage of liver damage caused by alcohol.
FibroScan
A non-invasive scan used to measure liver stiffness and check for damage.
Gait disturbance
Problems with balance or coordination, which can affect how someone walks, even when not drinking.
GGT
Gamma-glutamyl transferase, a liver enzyme that may be raised in people who drink heavily.
Gynecomastia
Breast tissue enlargement in males, sometimes linked to hormonal changes from long-term liver disease.
Harm reduction
An approach focused on reducing the negative effects of alcohol use, without requiring someone to stop completely.
Hepatomegaly
An enlarged liver, which can be a sign of alcohol-related liver disease.
Intervention
A planned conversation or structured approach to help someone recognise their drinking and consider getting support.
Irritable mood
Increased irritability or low tolerance, often linked to alcohol use or withdrawal.
Irritability
A tendency to become easily frustrated or angry, which can happen during intoxication or withdrawal.
Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, often caused by liver damage.
Korsakoff’s syndrome
A long-term memory condition linked to severe alcohol-related brain damage, often following untreated deficiency of vitamin B1.
Managed Alcohol Programme (MAP)
A structured support programme where small, controlled amounts of alcohol may be provided to people with severe dependence to reduce harm.
MCV (macrocytosis)
A blood test finding where red blood cells are larger than normal, sometimes linked to long-term alcohol use.
Memory impairment
Problems with short-term or long-term memory, which can be caused by alcohol use.
Nalmefene (Selincro)
A medication that can help reduce alcohol consumption by affecting how the brain responds to drinking.
Naltrexone
A medication that can reduce cravings and the rewarding effects of alcohol.
Pabrinex
A high-strength form of thiamine (vitamin B1) given by injection to treat or prevent deficiency.
Palmar erythema
Redness of the palms, sometimes linked to long-term liver disease.
Parotid enlargement
Swelling of the salivary glands near the jaw, which can occur with long-term heavy drinking.
PEth
A blood marker (phosphatidylethanol) that can indicate recent alcohol consumption.
Peripheral neuropathy
Nerve damage that can cause numbness, tingling, or pain, often in the hands and feet.
Relapse
Returning to alcohol use after a period of stopping or cutting down.
Remission
A period where symptoms of alcohol use disorder are reduced or no longer present.
Residential rehabilitation
A structured, live-in treatment programme focused on recovery and support.
SBIRT
An approach that stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment.
SMART Recovery
A support programme based on cognitive behavioural approaches to help people change addictive behaviours.
Spider naevi
Small, spider-shaped blood vessels visible on the skin, often linked to liver damage.
Suicidal ideation
Thoughts about harming oneself or ending one’s life, which can be linked to alcohol use.
Thiamine deficiency
A lack of vitamin B1, which can lead to serious brain and nerve problems.
Tremors
Involuntary shaking, often affecting the hands, commonly seen during alcohol withdrawal.
Vasodilation
The widening of blood vessels, which can cause flushing and a warm feeling in the skin.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy
A serious condition involving confusion, coordination problems, and eye movement issues caused by thiamine deficiency.
Looking for more support?
If any of these terms feel familiar or relevant, you’re not alone. You can explore support, read real experiences, or speak privately.
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