Binge drinking is usually considered evidence of alcoholism, even if they only do it every once in a while (once a week, or once a month.) However, the usual definition that I use is whether, when you drink, can you control how much you drink, or what you do when you do drink? (The latter includes those people who, when they drink, find themselves in places without remembering how they got there. (A "blackout") The best way of all is to go to one or more Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (they're called Anonymous because, even if you see someone you know there, they are not going to "rat" you out.) Go to a few of these, listen to the other people's stories, and see if their stories sound familiar. (It's OK to sit in the back; most newcomers do.)