Drift, nice to see you here and that you are rationalizing intake versus need.
One small question.... see if you can not drink for a month without any issues = shakes, craving, panic attacks, anxiety, sleeplessness, etc... that will answer the question for you.... if you can, stay sober for a year and see how you like it.... if you can't we're all here to help.... either way you are welcome in SR.
You have drawn similarities for many of us here... for me two years ago and that ramped up to a fifth a day and more.....
Try and see how you get on....