social drinker

noun

1. a person who drinks alcoholic beverages mainly in the company of others and who generally does not drink to excess.

Other Words From

• social drinking noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of social drinker¹

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

He’s a social drinker and doesn’t take any drugs either.

From Los Angeles Times

Doug, whom his father had introduced to beer at 13, had been a heavy drinker himself, he said, “to the point of blackout” as a college student, and a social drinker thereafter.

From New York Times

Dry January is meant for social drinkers, not for people seeking recovery, experts say.

From New York Times

But Confer had quit drinking after starting chemotherapy and had been only a social drinker before, Cohen said.

From Salon

Alcohol, as many of us know, is a socially accepted way to deal with negative emotions — until something happens that separates you from social drinkers.

From Los Angeles Times