I am an 'alcoholic' and I am 23. However I don't really think of it as having a disease, in the same way as having HIV, for example. More that I choose not to drink alcohol anymore as it 'doesn't suit me'. Disease? Call it what you will but it sure does make me very ill, both mentally and physically, when I drink it so I choose not to.
I think 'accepting' that you are an alcoholic is anything but a drawback but continuing drinking and living in denial is definately a huge drawback in life.