Alcoholism is generally looked down on in society, at least where it is associated with failure and squalor. There is, however, one type of alcohol addiction that is more socially accepted than others: wine addiction. There is no other alcohol that has more of an elitist connotation than wine. Wine has long been considered the alcoholic beverage of the thinking individual. The upper class has always gravitated toward wine, in knowledge and preference. For this reason, an addiction to wine can go largely unnoticed and untreated in certain circles.

Wine is often paired with gourmet meals to compliment flavors, and wine tastings are affairs that are attended by the well-to-do. Drinking wine lightly can have benefits for the heart, and can give the body a necessary dose of antioxidants. But just like any other alcohol, the benefits fall away with excessive consumption and are replaced by toxicity. Wine is hard on the body’s organs, including the liver and the skin. Drinking more than a recommended amount of wine can result in migraine headaches and dehydration, as well as many other health detriments.

Addiction to wine is often left unidentified by people who esteem wine. They treat wine like it is socially acceptable in any amount so long as the individual in question remembers themselves. In actuality, a tolerance to the effects of wine is built by excessive consumption and a person can become a functional addict right under the noses of their peers. Wine addiction is not harmless, and can lead a person into destruction without proper treatment.

It is not uncommon for people living in areas such as the Napa Valley wine region and the Okanagan Valley wine region, to develop wine addictions that go undiagnosed. Rehabilitation centers and addiction treatment facilities are beginning to open in these locations to counteract the effects of wine alcoholism. If you or a person you care about is showing signs of a wine addiction, it is wise to contact a Canada alcohol treatment program to learn about where to start in recovery.