Originally Posted by
queenteree 
Taz, yes he will stop for only a week and then drink daily (all day even at work) for about three weeks, then stop for a week and start up again. And when he drinks, he drinks as fast as he can to get drunk in the quickest amount of time possible (downing like 4 beers in 10 mins.). His mind is totally shot, doesn't even remember most of the time what he said 5 mins before, even when he is sober. The reason for this post was because if alcoholism is a disease, and one can stop for a week or so, then isn't more a matter of choice? That's the debate my son and I are having, he feels everything in life is a matter of choice, including alcoholism.
Now I am not quite clear what is your question here? Is it a pure academic curiousity / debate you and your son are having or you feel your family have a problem?
In a word, are you all happy as it is?
Perhaps you need to get real - this guy's "mind is totally shot" and "doesn't remember what he said 5 minutes before" - so I wonder do you realize how horrible this sounds?