I tend to err on the side of caution when talking about AA with someone 'new'. We must be able to accomodate the full-blown alcoholic. We must be there for the 'Bill Wilson's' who we come in contact with.
The book clearly states that a good case of the jitters (from attempting controlled drinking) would be well worth it if one is to get full knowledge of their condition (i.e. - loss of choice in regard to alcohol). -Deflation in the physical sense.
Leave liqour alone for a year (when one fails at this - deflation at the mental level)
Take liqour away, with no spiritual basis of living - the feeling of being 'separate' remains - Deflation in the spirtual sense.
But also - alcoholism being a progressive disease, I think some poeple make it to AA before they have completely lost choice in the matter..
"Though there is no way of proving it, we believe that early in our drinking careers most of us could have stopped drinking. But the difficulty is that few alcoholics have enough desire to stop while there is yet time. We have heard of a few instances where people, who showed definite signs of alcoholism, were able to stop for a long period because of an overpowering desire to do so."
I think some of these people end up in AA (statistically it is likely), and can stay sober just by building a fellowship with other sober people.
Lastly - "Whether such a person can quit upon a nonspiritual basis depends upon the extent to which he has already lost the power to choose whether he will drink or not"
So it seems to me the notion of 'choice' fades with the progression of the illness. I don't know if that is my case or not, I feel I ran out of choice long ago.
(All references to Alcoholics Anonymous have been qouted from the second edition)