Alcohol abuse in my life showed me I am an alcoholic.
Add alcohol and my life falls apart. Remove the alcohol and things improved.
If I am an alcoholic or not didn't matter. What did matter is what would happen with me when alcohol gets added to my system.
Instant stupid can happen for me with just one glass of wine or a couple of beers. All control goes out the door and alcohol wins.
Am I or have I ever been dependant upon alcohol in a physical sense? No.
Still though... when alcohol gets added, my system says...abuse it till I run out of money, run out of alcohol or get put some place where they won't allow me to have any alcohol.