I've been diagnosed as "abusing alcohol" rather than having "alcohol dependence," but for me, it's just semantics. Just because I don't experience withdrawal symptoms or other physical signs of dependence, it doesn't mean that I don't rely on alcohol in an unhealthy way. I'm also afraid of someday experiencing those physical symptoms, so I'm trying to stop before I fall further.
You know yourself better than we do, but think about what you'd tell a friend who told you about the same behaviors that you just posted. (No judgment here--I'm in the same boat!)