I've never surrendered anything, I decided I liked being sober much better than being drunk and feeling sick. I'm as recovering as anyone else.
I do believe that there are different degrees of alcohol abuse and it can be a quick jump from social drinking and just overdoing it to needing to drink to function. I never want to go back to that spot....it was a very harsh look at the reality of the progression of this addiction. ( i can't say i have a *disease*, it's plain old addiction for me)
I related quitting drinking to quitting smoking. Both make me very sick and aren't good for my body. I don't want to be sick, i want to be healthy and enjoy my life...so far I am winning and thrilled with sobriety.