Every alcoholic knows exactly how much booze they have left at home when they're not there. None, they have none, because they drank it all.

I used to try limit myself by only buying as much as I wanted to drink that night, but buying a pint every day gets expensive, now I just buy handles of cheap shit. My local grocery store has had handles of Popov for $11 the last two weeks, I should stock up.

Necessity isn't functionality. There's no perfect formula. The only real indication is maintaining a steady profession/career while acknowledging you indulge too much. My position is dependent on the profits I generate. If I'm not adequately profitable I'm unemployed. My personal predilection leans towards binge drinking. I use it as a blow off valve more than anything. I'm simply comfortably filling this niche in this moment. More physical employment would demand I drank less and ate more. As it is eat little, briefly do cardio 4 days a week, and lift/resistance in sets throughout my day.

I would suppose if your skills lay in planning ahead with limited funds then having "extra on hand" is just how you do it. I never really gauge or measure alcohol and simply have more than I could imbibe on hand. Indulgence is the reward but never the goal. I earn my trailer trash blackout binge drinking sessions :)

Well I need to change my oil anyway, a trip to town tomorrow seems inevitable.