I am puzzled by what I think is a specious distinction here. There are many ways to be a problem drinker. Alcoholism is an imprecise term that has little utility and serves to make people either defensive or self-satisfied. It is a common occurrence for people entering treatment for alcohol-related problems to bolster their denial with the assertion that, after all, they are “not alcoholic”. It is true, not all problem drinkers are alcohol-dependent, by which we mean physiologically addicted, needing to drink daily, going into withdrawal if deprived of access to alcohol, and requiring a medical detox to become sober. DSM-IV, the ‘bible’ of official psychiatric diagnoses, makes a distinction between alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse, but IMHO both qualify as “alcoholism”. Just my .02.
Excessive Drinking, Not Alcoholism, May Lead To Most Alcohol-related Problems
“Most people realize that too much alcohol can lead to multiple health problems, injuries and violence. Numerous statistics support the accuracy of this perception. Many people also assume that a substantial proportion of people who drink to excess are probably alcoholics. This may not be accurate. A recent study of the general population in New Mexico reveals that, in fact, most alcohol-related problems may be due to excessive drinking — especially binge drinking — among persons who are not alcoholics.” (Science Daily)
