The risk factors for alcoholism include:

• Level of alcohol consumption: drinking more makes it more likely that you will become dependent on alcohol. Drinking more than 15 drinks a week for men or 12 drinks a week for women increases the risk of becoming an alcoholic.
• Age when you start drinking: Those who start drinking as teens, especially as young teens, are more likely to become dependent on alcohol.
• Family history: The risk of alcoholism is much higher for people who have a parent or other close relative who was an alcoholic.
• Genetics: Related to family history, your genetics may increase your risk of alcohol dependency.
• Sex: Men are more likely to become alcoholics than are women.
• Emotional and mental disorders: Having a mood disorder such as anxiety or depression or having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder increases your risk of becoming an alcoholic. People with these conditions often “self-medicate” themselves with alcohol to alleviate their symptoms.