they need an enabler so they have a roof over their head, a soft place to sleep, clean underwear to put on, food in the fridge, that lightbulb replaced, someone with a not destroyed credit record to sign contracts, etc. etc.
in a nutshell, it is easier to continue to drink, if someone else is holding the fort down and keeping the home fire burning.
without the enabler, the alcoholic would have to do these things theirself, or loose some comfort.
obviously, if they are drunk, it is unlikely they are going to the grocery store to make sure there is milk in the morning.
this is why, when we bring the drinking into the light and ask them to do their fair share, they want us to get away. we are no longer enabling, see.
and then they frequently go and get another enabler, someone who doesn't know the extent of their drinking yet OR someone else with a drinking problem.
of course, the other drinker isn't as desireable as an enabler, even tho they can now drink in peace. because then we have two people who won't take care of basic necessities required for survival and who wants to live in squalor?