Originally Posted by
jimhere 
Alcoholism isn't necessarily a physical dependance on alcohol. It is what happens when you drink alcohol. At some point do you lose control of the amount you drink? That is the one defining factor of alcoholism.
Only once or twice have I become physically dependant, I am a binge alcoholic, I wake up 3-7 days later remembering nothing surrounded by bottles in huge physical pain and mental anguish.
Gneiss, obviously lots of normal drinkers go too far sometimes, in this country (UK) weekend binge drinking for younger people is quite normal but when they reach a certain age they tone it down...an alcoholic cannot "tone it down" when they really want to.
I agree with Jim's definition, if I wanted to be smart I could find a way to say it is wrong, but surely you know what he means?