Hello David,
It's a marvel at what we can put into our bodies and end up still relatively okay. Alcoholism is such a slow way to go. But, ultimately it'll lead to death. I read once that the average lifespan of a male chronic alcoholic was 54. I'm not sure how accurate that study was but my own father died from liver disease at 47. I'm guessing with little ones you're a few years away from 54 - So, congrats for treating it early!
Of course there is something worse than failing livers and death... What we do and what happens to us before we get there.