I can see where Wilde is coming from - Maybe if you we look at the stages of the disease perspective and then the alcohol-related behaviors with the resulting negative consequences.
Sure, some of us (like myself) received advanced degrees and started drinking more heavily a little later in our lives. In the early stages I was an alcoholic but without drinking I was able to function just fine.
I think when I started drinking my ability to function deteriorated gradually but surely.
But in the end, I still threw those years away and was not truly living life to the fullest.
Dave