That is me too. I worked with a “raging” alcoholic…I had no clue. Everyone else was telling stories of red and glassy eyes, post lunch anger, sneaking drinks from her locker…and I had no clue. I did think she was a testy butch but I had no clue it was from alcohol. Eventually they made her take a leave of absence to get help but all she did was take early retirement. I’m sure she’s now at home drinking g her remaining days away. Still…I never saw it.
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Indeed. Or generally signs of anxiety (speaking for myself).
I had been getting treated for anxiety long before the worst of my drinking. Doc had warned me that left untreated things could get worse. Oh, if I only knew then the depth of that truth. Might have stuck to my treatment for the long haul.
As a friend of mine says though, sometimes we have to go a good deal out of our way to come back a short distance correctly.
Same with the chapstick…obsessed and put vaseline on my lips at night. When ever I watch reality shows and they can only bring 1 item…mine would be chapstick 
I look for the more subtle signs in fellow alcoholics. For example, falling over, talking complete bollocks in a slurred voice, passing out mid-sentence, drinking vodka out of a bottle, wetting the bed/chair. These are some hints that the more perceptive amongst us might pick up on.
Seriously, though, I bite my nails, sip water a lot. Always finish a soft drink (soda) to the last drop before leaving my glass, sometimes biting my lips. I used to smoke and I notice a lot of heavy drinkers are regular smokers. So, perhaps there is an oral element there, as Freud would have agreed. Also skin is a lot better and no puffiness around the eyes since quitting alcohol.
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