It amazes me how worked up some people get over these words.I've seen guys get a resentment because someone claimed to be recovered.
It doesn't matter really,I've got some time and I never use either of those words.At the meetings I say I'm an alcoholic.In the outside world I might say that I quit drinking because I got carried away with it.
Never tell people that you are an alcoholic outside the rooms,you don't have to and there is too much misunderstanding out there.Some people will see it as a sign of weakness and push things,especially if you are in law enforcement or authority of sorts.