3 arrests, one year

RoyalBaa

Hi.

I have been arrested twice in ireland and once in the usa in less than one year, all for drink related offences. I just want some advice if anyone has been in a similiar situation. I am in college and doing well for myself but am worried about ruining my life if I get in trouble again. I have never been to court, just cautioned each time, so have no record. My future career will revolve around working with children, and although I know I will be great at the job, I feel like I'm not good enough or suitable for it, due to my recent actions. I'm 20 years old.

moonshadow

Don't drink alcohol .

RoyalBaa

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

Beano

It is incredibly useful advice. If you cant drink without getting arrested then perhaps alcohol is not for you.

moonshadow

College life revolves around studying, you study to get points to get into college. Then you continue , you fupp it up if you go on the piss , your choice.

The Peanut

Look, if you can't control your drinking; don't drink. It's illegal to drink in the States at 20. You won't have a career if you are not more careful.

This is probably not the correct forum for the question you're asking.

scheister

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

But the sounds of your post drink is the issue so if you want to work with children in years to come give up the drink before it ruins your career hopes

As someone who returned to college after i stopped drinking it can be annoying when 90% of things in college are drink driven. But try and mix with some of the socs that are less likely to drink or if you cant just explain that you have taken a break from drinking due to budget reasons or something. in most cases people will understand you will have the one or two twats that dont but what can you do

Little CuChulainn

College life does not revolve around drinking. YOUR life revolves around it and you are using college, and your nationality, as an excuse to behave like an idiot. You do have a record if you were arrested, a record that will show when you are vetted for working with kids. There are plenty of people who don't drink and a lot more who simply drink responsibly. If you can't do either of those then seek professional help.

Penny Tration

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

I managed to drink in college without being arrested or cautioned, as have most of us.

If you're binge drinking to the extent where you're being arrested, you have a problem with drink.

If you're serious about your career, quit.

Which is more important - your future, or getting pissed with the lads?

Frynge

When I started college............... It revolved around drinking.
When I continued with college..... It revolved around drinking.
When I finished college............... It revolved around drinking.

I don't have any degree.

I also have never been arrested.

I would suggest you stop drinking or at a minimum try a hell of a lot better to control it.

Sittingpretty

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Hi.

I have been arrested twice in ireland and once in the usa in less than one year, all for drink related offences. I just want some advice if anyone has been in a similiar situation. I am in college and doing well for myself but am worried about ruining my life if I get in trouble again. I have never been to court, just cautioned each time, so have no record. My future career will revolve around working with children, and although I know I will be great at the job, I feel like I'm not good enough or suitable for it, due to my recent actions. I'm 20 years old.

Stop drinking, seriously.

3 arrests in 12 months for drinking offences? At 20 years old? That's a slippery slope you're on there.

P_1

Legally speaking there's little you can do. Practically speaking, you need to be smarter with your drinking.

RoyalBaa

I understand that. Exactly the reason Im posting this. Its not normal to be arrested so many times in such a little space of time. Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it. I just feel miserable now returning to my course, knowing what i have done and feel Im not a suitable person for it

The Peanut

The Peanut wrote: »

Look, if you can't control your drinking; don't drink. It's illegal to drink in the States at 20. You won't have a career if you are not more careful.

This is probably not the correct forum for the question you're asking.

Just to expand on what I said. You're 20 years of age, you have a great life ahead of you if you want. Drinking problems will remove opportunities and limit your abilities. You joined boards for help. May I suggest reading some of the threads on the Non-drinkers group forum.

All your replies have been uniform in their message. You're young. Please listen to the advice.

Sittingpretty

RoyalBaa wrote: »

I understand that. Exactly the reason Im posting this. Its not normal to be arrested so many times in such a little space of time. Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it. I just feel miserable now returning to my course, knowing what i have done and feel Im not a suitable person for it

At least you recognise the problem.

It's one thing loving going out drinking but you have to give serious thought to how it can and most likely effect your future career and life.

You're 20 years old, I could be your mother, it's most Definately NOT TOO LATE to change things.

Do it for yourself and do it now, I promise you, you won't regret it.

Good luck

Sittingpretty

Also by way of explanation, I've been there, drinking almost destroyed my life and my relationship.

There comes a point where you have to realise is drinking your priority or are you your priority.

I'm 37. I gave up drinking 5 years ago and I've NEVER looked back. Wish I did it when I was your age.

goz83

RoyalBaa wrote: »

I understand that. Exactly the reason Im posting this. Its not normal to be arrested so many times in such a little space of time. Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it. I just feel miserable now returning to my course, knowing what i have done and feel Im not a suitable person for it

Seriously dude, you need to slap yourself. Getting wasted is not unwinding. If you've been arrested 3 times in a year, I can only wonder what else you do when you're wasted and don't get caught by the cops.

You're not good enough to work with children if you can't control your alcohol intake. Grow up, clean up and dry up. It's not too late, but it may be very soon on this path.

RedemptionZ

As someone who's given up drink, I can tell you college life doesn't have to revolve around drink. Think here for a second now, you're 20 years old. You don't have to hang around with the cool dudes who get plastered every time they go out and call you a dry shíte if you stay sober.

Your career is potentially going to be ruined if you keep this up. I don't know what your relationship with drink is like, but for me once I got started I couldn't stop. And we all know when we're drunk we do stupid things. If you're like that, ie. can't control your drink intake, which it sounds like you are, then you've got to stop drinking. The earlier you do it the more of your life you'll have to enjoy and probably more importantly the less regrets you'll have.

You can say that you're just unwinding, but 3 arrests speak for themselves. You've got a clean record, a lot of people wouldn't have been so lucky, take the chance you've been given. Your call.

Peregrinus

Your problem is not the arrests. The arrests are in fact a benefit to you, because they have brought home to you earlier than might otherwise have been the case that your problem is the drink.

This is not something you want to hear, I know, but you have to hear it. Some people can have a lively social life that revolves around drink, and can cope with it. You are not one of those people. Fortunately, you have discovered this at a time when it is still possible for you to make life-choices that reflect this reality. It may not be easy for you to make those choices, and to live up to them; it will take strength, and you have to man up for it. But it can be done; others have done it before you. And in the long run it will certainly be easier than living with the consequences of continued denial. You haven’t yet f*cked your career, your family and your relationships. Any price you pay now to make sure that never happens is worth it.

Your pattern of drinking makes you feel bad about returning to your course? Pretend a friend said that to you. Would you be in any doubt about what advice to offer him? You knew even before you opened this thread what we would all say. You opened this thread because you wanted to hear us say it. And good on you for doing that; you are looking for support and solidarity in facing your issues.

Keep doing that. Tell your friends that you are concerned about your drinking, and that you need to make some changes. If they are your friends, they will support you. And if your college offers a counselling service, go and see the counsellor; he or she may be able to put you in touch with some support groups or support services.

At twenty, you are still making the choices that will determine the person that you are going to become. This is one of those choices.

salamanca22

Drinking is the problem. Learn to control your drunken behavior or stop drinking full stop. Those are your options.

I am in college in an intense engineering course and my life does not revolve around drinking to relieve my stress nor does it for many many others and for those that do drink a few times a week they are behind the class in most subjects.

It's time to prioritise OP. You are an adult now and you need to do things now that will benefit your future and not cause you to lose out on your dream job!

Good luck.

TheChizler

If you're not going to go cold turkey at least take steps to control your drinking. Set yourself a time limit for your last drink of the night, plan to be up doing something in the morning as the desire to be not-hungover for that should curb yourself the night before, pace yourself with water, eat a large meal so you can't fit too much booze.

Some of these are just ways of tricking yourself, so it's not totally about willpower, which might be lacking when the beer is flowing, but once you get into the habit of drinking less the self control will become automatic.

Esel

Three strikes, not out yet, phew...

How many more amber lights do you need to see before you drive through a red light?

P_1

RoyalBaa wrote: »

I understand that. Exactly the reason Im posting this. Its not normal to be arrested so many times in such a little space of time. Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it. I just feel miserable now returning to my course, knowing what i have done and feel Im not a suitable person for it

First of all it's never too late to change anything do don't be thinking that.

What I've started doing with drinking is trying to maintain that mellow buzz you get after two or 3 drinks all night. After a while switch to the cokes and then switch back to the pints but don't go too mad on them if that makes any sense. Maybe that might work for you?

GerardKeating

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

No it does not. College life revolves around studying and exams.

You need to decide what you want, a career in Child Care or a career as a drinker.

Speaking purely as a parent, and ignoring the legal aspect, I would be worried about you having care of my children, if you do not have the self-control to regulate your drinking, why would a parent allow you to care for their children.

You are lucky, so far that there is no formal record, but your luck will run out and when it does, your garda vetting might be the least of your worries.

And remember, expect to be competing with your college classmate for employment, and all you need is one of them to bad mouth you to a potential employer to gain an advantage.

Either change career choices or seek help to stop drinking, you might not be an alcoholic yet, but it is clear you have a drink "Problem".

Timberrrrrrrr

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

Ah the old everyone else is doing it so i should to defence.

Simple enough advice for you. Curb your drinking, No one is saying you should stop altogether but when your drinking gets to the point where you are getting into trouble with the law then it's time to take a long hard look at yourself. Fwiw i am 44 years old, Been to college, Drinking for over 25 years and have never been arrested.

If you cannot see that you have a problem or are unwilling to admit it to yourself then you should practice saying the words "Would you like fries with that" for 10 minutes a day because if you keep on this trail of self destruction there will be no way you will be allowed to work with children. Even one arrest will almost certainly kill any career in childcare.

theteal

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

I'm a bit late to this thread. That has to be a piss-take comment

.jacksparrow.

Great to see the free college fees is been put to good use.

Squatman

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Hi.

I have been arrested twice in ireland and once in the usa in less than one year, all for drink related offences. I just want some advice if anyone has been in a similiar situation. I am in college and doing well for myself but am worried about ruining my life if I get in trouble again. I have never been to court, just cautioned each time, so have no record. My future career will revolve around working with children, and although I know I will be great at the job, I feel like I'm not good enough or suitable for it, due to my recent actions. I'm 20 years old.

you dont get arrested for being drunk. you get arrested for being disorderly, or starting fights, or not obeying orders from Gardaí.
what specifically were you arrested for?

Also. fixed your post.

As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland for me and is not something that you I can give up too easily!!

Alf Veedersane

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it.

You can change it. You just have to want to change.

You don't have to give up drinking. Just stop drinking to the point where you're liable to do stupid sh*t that will get you arrested.It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Know the one before the one that's one too many.

RedemptionZ

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

You can change it. You just have to want to change.

You don't have to give up drinking. Just stop drinking to the point where you're liable to do stupid sh*t that will get you arrested.It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Know the one before the one that's one too many.

For people who have alcohol abuse problems, it's often near impossible for them to know the one that's one too many. Honestly OP I would at the very least abstain completely for a while and then ease your way back in. Even then it's a very tough medium to get right, I know I tried for years and could never get it.

Alf Veedersane

RedemptionZ wrote: »

For people who have alcohol abuse problems, it's often near impossible for them to know the one that's one too many. Honestly OP I would at the very least abstain completely for a while and then ease your way back in. Even then it's a very tough medium to get right, I know I tried for years and could never get it.

It's just a turn of phrase.

To translate. Don't drink as much and if you can't stop at a certain point, don't drink.

reno123

So far, you're lucky that they are only cautions. I wwas in a similar boat, got arrested for drunk and disorderlys etc but I passed child vetting. I was on a downward spiral but gave it up for 6 months and it really helped. After that, try ease yourself back in. Only head out at 9.30 not 7pm, drink bottles instead of cans, leave bank card at home and bring small amount of cash!

Ash.J.Williams

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

there's your problem

Gerry T

Your 20 not 16 so should be mature enough to control your actions. So if you recognise that your the type of person that get's "sloppy" with drink then that's a problem. We all react differently with drink--I become a clown and mess about, others get aggressive or sleepy. But you have to agree getting cautioned is not normal, how many other people do you know have got a caution over drink ? I'm 48 and I don't know 1 person that got cautioned or arrested, and I'm no angel.

Some solid advise on here -- simple really -- if you can't control your drinking, and it controls you = give it up. You say that's not an option (worrying sign there), so take a middle ground. Next night out, drink only one type of drink, a pint of ??? or glass of ??? and don't mix through the night. Secondly every second drink make it a water. IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE MAKING. If you can't go out and enjoy yourself without getting plastered, can't you see there's a problem there ?

Bepolite

OP, I'd suggest dropping in to a local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I wish you the very best of luck.

Tow

Lets call a spade a spade. You are an Alcoholic. The cure is not to drink. Tell your 'friends' you are an Alcoholic and you will find out who the true ones are.

Gerry T

Tow wrote: »

Lets call a spade a spade. You are an Alcoholic. The cure is not to drink. Tell your 'friends' you are an Alcoholic and you will find out who the true ones are.

An Alcoholic is someone that's dependant on drink, when the pressure is put on they drink for support. The OP doesn't sound like an Alcoholic, more a "once I start I can't stop till I fall over" type, but hasn't said if he/she drinks in that way.

But a worrying sign is someone that can't control their drinking, if that's you OP and you can't go out with your drinking buddies and say NO to Alcohol you might do well to change your circle of friends. You might be surprised to find there are as many that don't go out getting slaughtered as there are that do.

adocholiday

People calling OP an alcoholic are being harsh. You don't know if he's dependent on alcohol, he just drinks too much when he's out. Many people of OP's age drink too much, I know I did at 20. You don't need to give it up, you don't need to go to AA; just learn your limits and stick to them.

When you feel yourself getting drunk have a pint of water, take a break for a round, or even get a bottle of beer instead of a pint and drink slower. Stay away from shots/shorts etc. and don't be afraid to say no to offers of them. It takes a bit of willpower and some adjusting but you will get there OP.

Also some drinks are a trigger for people. I know people that when they drink certain shorts become angry and aggressive. Others become sad or upset. It's easy to identify drinks that do this and avoid them.

At the end of the day OP, you are the one responsible for your actions and their consequences. Don't ruin your future for a night on the tear. Be responsible and be aware of your limits. The fix is almost as simple as that.

Faolchu

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Ok, some useful advice please. College life in fact revolves around drinking. As bad as it may be, its the norm in Ireland and is not something that you can give up too easily!!

no college life does not revolve around alcohol. and Alcohol is inredcibly easy to give up unless your an alcoholic. you simply decide not to drink it.

Timberrrrrrrr

Gerry T wrote: »

An Alcoholic is someone that's dependant on drink, when the pressure is put on they drink for support. The OP doesn't sound like an Alcoholic, more a "once I start I can't stop till I fall over" type, but hasn't said if he/she drinks in that way.

But a worrying sign is someone that can't control their drinking, if that's you OP and you can't go out with your drinking buddies and say NO to Alcohol you might do well to change your circle of friends. You might be surprised to find there are as many that don't go out getting slaughtered as there are that do.

I donno

RoyalBaa wrote: »

I understand that. Exactly the reason Im posting this. Its not normal to be arrested so many times in such a little space of time. Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it. I just feel miserable now returning to my course, knowing what i have done and feel Im not a suitable person for it

May not be a full blown alcoholic but sure is showing tendencies, Go to an AA meting and just listen, You don't have to say anything but you should listen to the stories of other people. If you can relate to them in anyway then maybe you need to re-evaluate your priorities.

o1s1n

adocholiday wrote: »

You don't need to give it up, you don't need to go to AA; just learn your limits and stick to them.

Some people cannot stick to limits once they've had a few and the only option is to give up. If someone has been cautioned three times by the Gardai in one year I would be leaning towards them falling into this group.

adocholiday wrote: »

Also some drinks are a trigger for people. I know people that when they drink certain shorts become angry and aggressive. Others become sad or upset. It's easy to identify drinks that do this and avoid them.

This is actually an urban legend. All alcoholic drinks have the same active chemical which gets you drunk - ethanol.

Different drinks have different strengths. Therefore different drinks 'appear' to have different results when it all comes down to the potency of the drink itself.

Drink more ethanol/Something with a higher proof, get more drunk.

If the OP seems to have a low tolerance to booze then he should stay away from all strong spirits.

adocholiday wrote: »

At the end of the day OP, you are the one responsible for your actions and their consequences. Don't ruin your future for a night on the tear. Be responsible and be aware of your limits. The fix is almost as simple as that.

I completely agree with the OP being the only one responsible for their actions, but the fix is not always 'simple'.

I know some individuals who turn from the nicest people on earth into self centered asses after a few drinks - and there seems to be no other way to control it than to just stay off the stuff.

If I were the OP with three cautions and a possible career teaching kids, I'd be having a very hard think about touching another drop again in the foreseeable future.

The Rabbit

RoyalBaa wrote: »

I understand that. Exactly the reason Im posting this. Its not normal to be arrested so many times in such a little space of time. Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course. It helps me to have a good time. It has just gotten to the stage where I feel it's too late to change things. I hate what I have done to my life so far, and wish I could change it. I just feel miserable now returning to my course, knowing what i have done and feel Im not a suitable person for it

Too late to change things at 20?

Yeah, good one.

You've been given good advice here. You should really take it on board.

Export

What is it about the offences that makes you feel you're not suitable to work with children? Would you feel you were suited to working with children if you were not drinking at all?

Sniipe

I don't think this is the correct forum, but it is an interesting predicament and its a trending thread.

When you want to relieve stress you go to drink. Couldn't that be said about any addictive substance to someone who is addicted? Alcohol, drugs, fags, etc. We all want to relieve stress and pressure. Alcohol has the added advantage that it is a social norm.

From what you have said in your 3 posts it is obvious to everyone except you that drink is a problem. You need to realise this for yourself. Your mind will try and push the notion out and you will trick yourself into thinking its not that bad of a problem.

We don't know the exact circumstances of the 3 arrests, however I imagine the arrests would not have happened if there was no alcohol involved.

Lots of people drink sensibly. It seems for you this isn't the case. Heck after reading this thread you might say to yourself that the next time you go out you will not drink to excess and you will know your limits... Is this really likely to happen? I don't think so.

"Know the one that's one to many" and "drink sensibility" may not apply to you.

I'm sure sober you looking at drunk you getting arrested would not be happy?

Its difficult to give up an addiction and for some it has proved impossible. I hope you realise where you are with alcohol and smarten up your F*cking act!

uck51js9zml2yt

Interesting that college revolves around drink for some people.
I had 4 years of college and 20years later did a masters while working and rearing a family.
II never went near a pub.
If the op is drinking that much as frequently as he says which is having serious repercussions then he has a drink problem.
He may not be a fully fledged alcoholic but still needs help to deal with his lack of control and dependence on drink.
OP I suggest you contact the AA to get the help you need.

RoyalBaa

Thanks. I appreciate the replies and advice. However, I do not appreciate those of you who say Im an alcoholic. I do not depend on drink to get me through my every day life. I just enjoy going out drinking with my mates once every couple of weeks. And yes I know I do drink to excess every now and again, and have done stupid things which has led to the three arrests. I understand that if I keep going down this path it could in fact turn into alcoholism. However, college students who drink and get drunk should not be viewed as alcoholics. It's indeed a shame that it has become so normal and is almost accepted for young people to go out and get drunk. Let me assure you I do not go out and get plastered every time, it was just those few times that i happened to get caught. I understand I have to know my limits and be more sensible. I do not want to ruin my future but do feel it's heading that way if I keep on this same path. Thanks anyway for your advice. I just hope I can take it on board next time I go out with my friends

Little CuChulainn

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Thanks. I appreciate the replies and advice. However, I do not appreciate those of you who say Im an alcoholic. I do not depend on drink to get me through my every day life. I just enjoy going out drinking with my mates once every couple of weeks.

This seems at odds with your previous post.

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Problem is I love going out during the week and drinking with my friends. It's the one thing that relieves me from the stress of my tough course.

Export

OP - I would not recommend AA at such a young age - none of us know what you can do yet with regards to curbing your drinking or regulating it - I would for now - ignore all mention of being an alcoholic.

I would however recommend chatting with your GP. Maybe avail of college counselling services too. They'll take a month or two to start, but they could be eye-opening for you. Please keep them up consistently when they start for you. If you are going to graduate, you need to do something? Do you agree?

Are you drinking more days than you used to? Now is the time to nip it in the bud.
You need to curb your drinking. It's THAT serious.

How do I know?
Because I was you. It won't end well if you don't address the things that are going haywire for you.
You are probably a brilliantly talented student. This '****' will not do you any favours.

I was 'lugged' to AA after a suicide attempt at 18. No-one addressed the '****' that was going on for me. Just the symptom. 3 cans of cider a night.

Then I went to uni.
Getting sick in public, drinking nagins of whisky, missing classes, being picked up by guards for being intoxicated in the middle of roads and stuff. Great craic altogether! Not able to study. Not able to get a part-time job. Not able to do anything bar go out and get as drunk as possible. Smoking of the odd joint, drinking bottles of wine in parks, thinking I was having the time of my life. And the vomiting lol.

I would tell you how the rest of my life turned out, but I don't want to frighten you.
Address all of this NOW, THIS YEAR, THIS WEEK.

Penny Tration

I'm not calling you an alcoholic.

However, if your drinking is causing you problems in your personal life (which three arrests would certainly count as) and you just continue to drink - you have a problem with alcohol.

Like I said earlier - either alcohol and ridiculous binge drinking is important to you, or your future career is.

Gerry T

Export" makes a good point -- is there an underlying issue, depression etc.... If so that needs looking at. But if its just a case of going along with your mates, then that's easy to fix

Pro Hoc Vice

RoyalBaa wrote: »

Thanks. I appreciate the replies and advice. However, I do not appreciate those of you who say Im an alcoholic. I do not depend on drink to get me through my every day life. I just enjoy going out drinking with my mates once every couple of weeks. And yes I know I do drink to excess every now and again, and have done stupid things which has led to the three arrests. I understand that if I keep going down this path it could in fact turn into alcoholism. However, college students who drink and get drunk should not be viewed as alcoholics. It's indeed a shame that it has become so normal and is almost accepted for young people to go out and get drunk. Let me assure you I do not go out and get plastered every time, it was just those few times that i happened to get caught. I understand I have to know my limits and be more sensible. I do not want to ruin my future but do feel it's heading that way if I keep on this same path. Thanks anyway for your advice. I just hope I can take it on board next time I go out with my friends

Being an alcoholic is not I can't live with out drink or I must drink every day it's is drink effecting my life and or the lives of the people around me. 1 arrest in a year is unfortunate 2 arrests in a year is oops 3 is causing you problems. I love drink I happily drink 3 bottles of champange in a night I'm in my mid 40's spent 8 years in third level education and enjoyed every day but I have never been arrested. Drink has caused you problems you have a drink problem.