Originally Posted by
dgillz 
In AA there is a challenge to go 30 days without drinking. The general consensus is if you can do this with no issues you are not alcoholic.
dgillz,
I respect your posts, so please don't take this as a criticism, but I don't believe your statement is supported by the Big Book. The BB states that most alcoholics (those to whom this book will appeal) will be unable to stay sober anything like a year.
My experience (observation) is that almost anyone can hold their breath for a month. I would not use that as a basis for determining alcoholism. The controlled drinking experiment (also not specifically supported by the BB) of two drinks per day, every day, no more no less, for a month is a far better test of the craving phenomenon.
Shoot, dgillz, I see folks all the time under the right judicial controlled system stay dry for two years. When threatened with jail, tested random every few days, intensive counseling, most of the diversion/drug court folks stay dry for a year or more without difficulty. And most of them go right back to drinking after they are released from that program.