Mr. Guy with Pie, stopping the drinking is just the first part, then recovery needs to take place to unravel 20 yrs. of drinking. That's where the steps and a sponsor come into play. I am the mother of an addict. Once at an open AA mtg. I heard the speaker say that in his mind the def. of an alcoholic was the skid row guy with the brown paper bag, so his drinking wasn't all that bad in comparison. And that image is what kept him in his disease for many yrs, til he surrendered.