If looking at these rum and Cokes makes you feel green this morning, it’s time to ask yourself these questions.

For most people the occasional night out is not a big deal — but when a hangover becomes a regular part of your weekend routine it’s a sign something might not be right.

It’s an alarming statistic that one in five Australian adults regularly drink harmful amounts of alcohol. This chronic alcohol use can cause liver failure, stomach ulcers, bleeding problems, damaged nerves, injured brain cells and an increased risk of some cancers.

It can take years of regular hangovers before people even consider whether they might have a problem, but sometimes you’ve just got to ask the right questions.

The following questionnaire can help you quickly screen your friends, family or partner. While this isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation it is thought that if someone answers ‘yes’ to two or more questions then it might be time to chat with your GP to work out if alcohol is a problem for you.

1. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT CUTTING DOWN YOUR DRINKING?

Have you ever decided at the start of the night that you’re not going to drink, but you inevitably end up with a beer in your hand? You’ll have “just one more vodka, lime and soda”, but you end up downing another five … or more.

Maybe you’ve tried to stop drinking altogether, but keep slipping back into old habits.

Your health isn’t great and your relationships are suffering. You know you’ll feel worse in the morning, but you keep drinking.

If your social time revolves around the pub and you’ve let go of old hobbies and interests, it might be time for some life balance. Less time getting drunk and more time doing all the things that you love to do when you’re sober.

Does ‘one drink after work’ turn into an all-nighter?Source:istock

2. HAVE YOU BEEN ANNOYED BY OTHERS CRITICISING YOUR DRINKING?

Do you avoid criticism by drinking alone? Do you drink alcohol in your bedroom so your housemates don’t find out? Are you storing used bottles under your bed or sneaking them into your neighbour’s recycling bin?

Close friends or family will often be the first ones to tell you to cut down on the grog because they care deeply about your health.

Strangers don’t care about you at all, so it’s a big warning sign if you’ve been approached at the bar and asked to cool it.

Personal comments about your drinking habits might be annoying, but others sometimes know us better than we know ourselves.

3. DO YOU EVER FEEL GUILTY ABOUT DRINKING?

In the morning it’s common to hear people shouting “I’m never drinking again”, but it’s rare for anyone to actually stop drinking.

Too many Long Island Iced Teas might have given you a horrid hangover, but you can regret more than just getting a headache and a dry mouth.

Alcohol decreases our inhibitions and we can start feeling intense emotions of happiness, sadness or anger.

Happy drunks can be overly amorous, putting their trust in the arms of a stranger.

Sad drunks sit in the corner of the room, regretting their life decisions and filling up their empty wine glass with tears.

Angry drunks can be a danger to themselves or others, taking risks and picking fights with strangers, friends, or partners.

Blackouts and memory lapses are a worry as anything can happen to you when you’re in a vulnerable state. Waking up in a stranger’s bed, a garden, a building site or a hospital might be a bit scary, but next time you might not wake up at all.

Drinking injuries can affect your pride and physical health, but they can also act as a painful motivation to reduce your alcohol.

We woke up like this.Source:istock

4. DO YOU FIX YOUR HANGOVER WITH THE ‘HAIR OF THE DOG’?

A hangover can make you feel tired, shaky, nauseated, dehydrated, anxious and depressed.

When you’re drinking every night and hungover every morning, it’s easy to think that another glass of Bourbon is the best cure, but it only delays your hangover.

Drinking heavily for long periods of time will make your body dependent on alcohol and some people need to drink just to feel normal. Suddenly stopping alcohol can cause confusion, hallucinations and even seizures. Heavy drinkers need to slowly decrease their alcohol use, or cease drinking in a clinic under close supervision.

If you often wonder where your Sunday mornings have gone, or have answered ‘yes’ to two or more of these questions please chat with your GP.

Dr Brad McKay is a GP and host of Embarrassing Bodies Down Under. Find him at www.drbradmckay.com.au or follow him on Twitter @drbradmckay.