Interesting point you make yeahgr8.
I feel "fortunate" (probably not the correct term!haha!) that I got to the stage that i did at my age ie- drinking upon waking and not being able not to, drinking super-strength (tramp-juice) at 7.30AM from the conershop in the pouring rain to kill hangover and satisfy intense cravings and basically being a total round the clock alcoholic once I had taken a drink. The only part i had yet to come was the 24/7 dependance and I don't think i would have made it that far tbh. Add to that the fact that I used to use sh*t-loads of drugs on my binges and was powerless over drugs also once I had taken a drink and you get complete and utter emotional/mental collapse upon comedown/withdrawal/hangover.
I couldn't have gone much lower and thus I am grateful for that as I still have chance to turn my life around whilst feeling like i milked drink/drugs for every little last drop of goodness.
Grateful to be sober