Stevie,
I can relate. I also don't much care if it is called a disease or not. I don't care if one calls it an addiction. I don't care if someone calls it a separate entity or needs someone or something to blame. It is progressive. I call it a dis-ease. That is why I hyphenate the word. I didn't start the regular daily addiction and physical craving for it until my late 30's. Other than that, as you said, all our stories are not unique in later stages.
What is remarkable isn't so much the progressive nature of this particular dis-ease. But that we drank so much and survived when so many younger alcoholics are dead now.
Thanks for making that point so eloquently.