The most important word, I think, in the AA textbook is "suddenly."
In "More About Alcoholism," on page 36, they say
"Suddenly the thought crossed my mind that if I were to put an ounce of whiskey in my milk it couldn't hurt me on a full stomach."
My understanding of this is that I should not be surprised when "suddenly" happens to me. I'm actually being warned that I am defenseless against the first drink-- that regardless of how much time I have since my last drink, if I am an untreated alcoholic, I will be plagued by moments of insanity where a thought crosses my mind that is utterly insane, but I will be unable to process it as such because I have a mental obsession.
So I do not believe in triggers-- I believe I have a permanent condition that requires a permanent solution. When I disrespect that disease by thinking it is occasion-based-- that there are predictable moments of weakness-- I am focusing my attention on the symptom and not the cause.
I have to treat the cause.