Originally Posted by hendershot

Your "strength" relative to being able to abstain from alcohol consumption is a non-issue. It has nothing to do with will-power or personal strength--you have a disease that you alone can't control. This is where the first three steps of AA come in handy. Accepting powerlessness and unmanagibility is a good place to start because it helps you to accept reality as it is--that is, you can't control your drinking (right?). Next, once you accept this, not just admit it, you can recognize yourself as you are and move forward knowing that you will have cravings and urges and you need help to overcome them.