Leon Sylvester, who goes by Sober Leon on YouTube, has become a trusted voice for people looking to regain control over their drinking habits. In his recent video, he highlighted a crucial warning sign that may indicate someone is a high-functioning problem drinker — and it could be lurking in your relationship.
Sylvester, who shares personal insights and practical advice on how to break free from problematic drinking without relying on Alcoholics Anonymous or sheer willpower, explains that one of the clearest signs of a high-functioning problem drinker is the tendency to lie about alcohol consumption.
“You would be surprised how common this is,” he said. “When you drink alcohol, you know what you're doing is wrong. You know it hurts the people that you love. But rather than address the issue directly, we just think that they’re never going to notice. We can sneak those drinks in.”
Hiding alcohol from loved ones
Many high-functioning problem drinkers go to great lengths to hide their drinking, often from those closest to them. It’s not just about sneaking a few drinks here and there — some individuals go so far as to mask the smell of alcohol on their breath.
“I know people who’ll drink vodka because there’s less smell, and maybe their partner won’t notice,” Sylvester shared.
This behavior is often an attempt to avoid facing the reality of their drinking. In fact, Sylvester points out that the person most affected by these lies isn't the partner or family members — it’s the person doing the hiding.
A wake-up call for change
Sylvester also emphasizes that lying about your drinking is a red flag that shouldn’t be ignored. In his own experience, it’s a sign that change is necessary.
“The person who gets hurt the most from this lie isn’t your family or your children, it’s you,” he explained. “Lying and hiding your drinking is a sign that it might be time to change.”
Having personally struggled with these behaviors for years, Sylvester has a deep understanding of the internal struggle involved. He shared that he lived with this feeling for over a decade before he began to address it.
If you find yourself hiding alcohol or lying about your consumption, Sylvester’s advice is clear: it’s time to take an honest look at your relationship with alcohol and consider making a change — not just for the sake of your loved ones, but for yourself.