Waggon, Off the Term used to denote a return to heavy drinking following a period of abstinence.

Waggon, On the Term used to denote abstinence from alcohol.

Wagon Rider Abstainer.

Waker-upper First drink of the day.

Wall-eyed Drunk.

Wallop Potent alcoholic content or reaction.

Ward, Mike Author of the book "Caring for someone with an alcohol problem"

Wasted Drunk.

Water Wagon, Fall off the To drink after trying to remain abstinent.

Weissbier White beer popular in Bavaria.

Well-lubricated Drunk.

Well-oiled Very drunk.

Wernicke's Encephalopathy Neurological condition associated with heavy alcohol intake and poor diet (especially deficiency of vitamin B1/thiamine). Symptoms include disorientation, confusion, visual impairment, unsteady gait/loss of balance and memory loss.

Wet-brained Suffering from Wernicke's Encephalopathy.

Wet one's whistle Slang term for drinking alcohol. Wheat Whiskey Alcohol beverage made from wheat grain.

Whiskey Spirits made from cereal grains, usually containing over 50 percent alcohol.

Whiskey, Blended Mixture containing at least 20 percent pure whiskey, neutral spirits, other whiskeys, and flavourings.

Whiskey, Bonded Whiskey stored for at least four years in wood barrels and bottled at 100 proof. Does not contain blended whiskey.

Whiskey, Bourbon Whiskey distilled at less than 160 proof from fermented mash containing at least 51 percent corn. Must be stored at 125 proof or less in charred new oak barrels.

Whiskey, Corn Same as bourbon whiskey except mash must contain no less than 80 percent corn grain. Cannot be treated in any way with charred wood.

Whiskey, Light Whiskey distilled at less than 160 proof and stored in uncharred oak barrels.

Whiskey, Rye Same as bourbon except produced from mash containing at least 51 percent rye.

Whiskey, straight 1. Whiskey stored in new oak containers for at least two years. 2. Whiskey directly from the bottle.

Whiskey Nose Red swollen nose due to broken blood vessels caused by excessive drinking.

Whisky Spirits produced in Scotland or Canada and made from cereal grain.

White Lighting Illegally manufactured whiskey, colourless and made from corn. Usually with high alcohol content.

White Port Type of port exclusively made from white grapes.

White Rum Colourless rum popular in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

White Tequila Colourless tequila popular in Mexico.

Wilsnack, S. Editor of "Alcohol Problems in Women".

Wine 1. Alcoholic beverage usually made from fermented grape juice. 2. Party at which the main beverage is wine.

Wine Bar Licensed premises where wine is the main drink consumed.

Wine Cellar Area of home or winery where wine is stored.

Wine Glass Special glass for serving wine, usually with stem and broad base.

Wine Lake Term used to describe excess wine produced in the European Economic Community.

Wine Nose Red nose due to broken blood vessels caused by frequent and excessive wine drinking.

Wino Slang term for impoverished heavy drinker who primarily drinks wine.

Winter Ale Term used to describe rich, dark beers sold during winter months.

Wiped Out Drunk.

Wired Drunk.

Withdrawal Symptoms Physical and psychological symptoms that can occur following long-term, heavy, daily alcohol intake. Common symptoms include sweating, retching, tremulousness, anxiety and insomnia. More severe symptoms include epileptic-type convulsions and visual hallucinations. Symptoms usually start within 12 - 24 hours of stopping or reducing drinking and most abate within around 7 - 10 days.

Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Organisation started in 1874 to close saloons and increase public morality.

Wood Alcohol Methanol. Poisonous fluid chemically related to alcohol; made by wood distillation. Sometimes consumed by skid row alcoholics when unable to get alcohol.

Wormwood Plant once used to make absinthe.

Wort Product resulting from infusion of barley into water. The second stage in making beer.