Your question about how drinking became a problem is a significant one, reflecting a common concern when patterns around alcohol consumption change and start affecting life negatively. Substance use issues, like problematic drinking, often develop gradually, making it hard to pinpoint a single cause or moment when they became an issue. However, several factors typically contribute to this transition:

1. Frequency and Quantity: The problem often starts to manifest when the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption increase. What might begin as social drinking can escalate to regular use, where you might find yourself drinking more to achieve the same effects—a phenomenon known as tolerance.
2. Reliance on Alcohol to Cope: If you start using alcohol to deal with stress, anxiety, or depression, it can become a coping mechanism. Over time, this can lead to reliance, where you feel the need to drink to handle everyday situations, increasing the risk of alcohol becoming a central issue in your life.
3. Impact on Daily Life: When drinking starts to affect your daily responsibilities such as work, relationships, and health, it becomes problematic. This can include missing work due to hangovers, neglecting family duties, or health issues caused or exacerbated by drinking.
4. Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, such as shakiness, sweating, nausea, and anxiety, is a clear sign of physical dependence.
5. Neglect of Hobbies and Interests: If you find that alcohol takes a significant amount of your time and energy, leading to a lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy, it can indicate that drinking has become a predominant issue.
6. **Social and Legal Problems**: Encountering social problems, such as conflicts with friends and family over your drinking habits, or legal issues like driving under the influence, are red flags that alcohol is leading to significant consequences. Understanding that problematic drinking is a complex interplay of psychological, physical, social, and sometimes genetic factors is essential. Realizing the transition from casual drinking to problem drinking is the first step towards seeking help. If you recognize these warning signs in your behavior or feelings related to alcohol consumption, consulting with a healthcare provider or a mental health professional specializing in addiction can provide you with the support and guidance needed to address the issue. Remember, acknowledging the problem is a pivotal first step in the journey towards recovery.