If we define "sober" as staying away from the drink, I do agree that it's inconsistent. But, today, my sobriety is only partly defined by the absence of alcohol in my body. To introduce it would taint the rest -- but, like you said --
If I stick to my primary spiritual aim, staying sober isn't an issue.
-- if that's how I'm living, chemical sobriety is one result. The drink problem is solved, so I'd have to be straying from my primary spiritual aim, thus my sobriety,
before I introduced a drink.
Peace & Love,
Sugah