There is a difference between saying you are an alcoholic and qualifying for membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. It says (somewhere) "The only qualification for membership is a desire to stop drinking." It helps me - I know that I have this qualification for membership. I'm not sure it says anywhere that you need to say, "I'm an alcoholic." What I do know is that my pattern for drinking, my obsession is not likely to change. I share some similiarities with the people who tell their stories in the Big Book and at meetings, but not all.
I do know that there are people who can take alcohol or leave it. I'm not one of them. Drinking became very important to me and it made me very selfish. Do I have a disease? I don't know. Should I drink? Absolutely not. I pay a price every time I do. Enough is enough - for me.