What type of drinker are you? Psychologist reveals there are 7 distinct personalities – and the one who has a problem isn’t the most obvious

Are you the confident life of the party, or the social butterfly who only plots to tear them apart while sober?

According to Phil Macleod, hypnotherapist, psychologist and Founder of Thought Reader, there are seven different drinking personalities you’ll typically observe if you take the time to look around the bar the next evening.

Macleod explained: ‘After working as a hypnotherapist and psychologist for over twenty years (and over 10 years working in the City of London during a time when there was a huge drinking culture), I have learned that drinking is rarely about alcohol.

‘It’s about decompression, trust, belonging and numbness, long before it’s about alcohol.

‘Over time, these causes form patterns. And once you understand this pattern, you begin to recognize your own drinking personality.

‘There are various drinking personalities that can be observed psychologically through patterns and people’s body language. Once you understand the pattern, you start to realize what kind of a drinking personality you are.’

Read on to discover the different drinking personalities, according to Macleod, and see if you can spot the person most like you…

Weekend Rocker

Macleod said: ‘They’ve been disciplined and focused all week. Gym sessions are booked and are going very productive. Then Friday comes and like a weekly routine, the switch flips.

‘He’s not sipping Wobbler on the weekend; They are trying to relieve stress and relax with their friends after a busy week.

‘What’s happening here is decompression. They have successful careers, but their Friday nights and often weekends are less about celebration and more about escaping and feeling alive (and escaping the ordinary).

‘The problem with this burst of concentration is that the nervous system takes its toll, and the constant cycle can leave you feeling drained and tired all weekend until you’re back in psychologically productive viewing mode on Monday morning.’

Stamp

‘The flake drinker cancels the coffee service but rarely the evening drinks.

‘They may give the same old excuses but it’s not about inconsistency, it’s actually a sign of concern.

‘For some people alcohol can relieve insecurities and provide a short-term confidence boost, and social interaction without alcohol can be very revealing.

‘Your brain begins to believe that this is the only way to access that version of yourself. Over time, natural confidence diminishes as it is never done without drinking.’

Ritual Fun

‘This is the person who loves the shared moment more than the drink itself. Often the organizer is the person who raises the glass, encourages the toast, and brings the group together. For them, drinking is about networking and community.

‘Psychologically, this drinking personality fosters connection and is about feeling safe and secure.

‘But at any meaningful moment when alcohol is involved, that effort can begin to feel incomplete without it, and it can be confusing whether the connections or chemistry are actually real, or whether it is the alcohol that is fueling the connection.

Evening Breathtaking

‘Evening Breath, poured quietly after work, has the familiar familiar cup that signals the end of the working day and the temporary end of responsibility. This is the psychological transition from task to rest. And it works in the short term. Alcohol slows the nervous system down enough to create a feeling of relaxation, so it’s common to be an Evening Breather.

‘Having said that, this personality type may experience disruption of deep sleep and increased low-level anxiety the next day as a result. This can have a knock-on effect because the Evening Breather will seek more relief the following night, which is only temporary and keeps the pattern in a loop.

‘Ultimately, when relaxation becomes something you chemically trigger rather than produce internally, or you learn coping mechanisms (mechanisms we teach our patients in hippotherapy), resilience gradually weakens and codependency can take hold.

Social Armor

‘He’s confident. Witty. Often the life and soul of the party. And because of this, the first drink usually runs out very quickly.

‘Alcohol acts as protection for this type of drinking personality. It eliminates any vulnerabilities and creates a buffer between them and the room.

‘Many people in this category are more sensitive than they think. As a result, they are afraid of being judged and are actually not as confident as they seem.

‘The problem is that the armor also hides the truth. And often, when these individuals finally test their social standing without it, they cope much better than they expected.

‘They doubt themselves very easily and need to realize that they are fun, confident and witty without alcohol.

Stress Suppressant (Who doesn’t know this yet)

‘This is the pattern I see most often. No drama. There are no obvious extremes. Just consistency with little days off.

‘One or two most nights, sometimes three. They always frame it as normal.

‘What it usually does is numb the emotional charge. Whether it’s work pressure, relationship tension, persistent dissatisfaction, or hiding from past traumas.

‘Instead of confronting these feelings or seeking therapy to resolve this, the problems are buried in the sand. However, the person does not feel out of control in any way, it is a functional routine he lives.

Bounty Drinker

It’s different from ‘Exhalation Tonight’. The Reward Drinker celebrates every success with a drink. And they find something to celebrate, like, “I closed a deal,” or “I nailed it with a boring presentation,” or just “I deserved it.” Alcohol is their reward, a self-soothing gold medal.

‘Psychologically this links dopamine with alcohol. Over time, the brain associates success with drinking, making it difficult to celebrate or relax without drinking.

‘In my experience this type is common among high performers, especially in competitive environments, where they don’t need to binge drink like Weekend Rockers. Drinking feels deserved, justified, sensible and deserved.’