Hey Horsie - We were posting at the same time, so just to add a little of my own experience - I have gone months at a time abstaining (when I was pregnant, when I was "proving to myself that I wasn't an alcoholic"
, etc.) but I sure as get out wasn't recovering, I was just able to muster the will power to hang on, all the while planning drinking again after the youngun was born and nursed, after the shame of whatever happened that made me want to "prove" I was ok died down, whatever. But, as soon as I picked up one, I was right back where I started, which was drinking alcoholically.
Hope your stepdaddy gets the help he needs when he is ready to get it.
love Jomey