A sober alcoholic with no program isn't exactly a sunbeam of joy to be around, at least not the ones I've encountered.The family as a whole, will benefit greatly as a result of their loved one going through the process.
Been there, done that. You can take the steps piecemeal if you like, or you can get into the nuts and bolts of this thing and experience recovery. Just not drinking is not enough for me, I need it all: serenity, sanity, joy, peace, no fear of alcohol. The problem has been removed, so long as I continue to live this way, it is open to all.
Rob hit the nail on the head, a sober alcoholic with no program can often be a carrrier of the "ism". The recovered alcoholic has real answers to the drink problem. The Big Book is not a mystery. There are clear cut directions to a way of life far beyond anything many of us ever imagined possible.