I do agree there are individuals in AA that really, really want you to label yourself alcoholic, and step 1 and 12 refer to alcoholics, but AA does not require you to label yourself.
The recovery movement in this country
strongly suggests that people who are addicted to substances identify themselves as alcoholics or addicts. If a person chooses not to, they are very quickly dismissed as being "in denial". Many are told they will
never get better until they "admit it" or accept the label. That's the trend, but again...millions can and do recover from addiction every day regardless of what they call themselves.
An SR member once said something along these lines: "If you are an alcoholic and alcohol is causing you problems, you'd better quit drinking. If you are not an alcoholic and alcohol is causing you problems, you'd better quit drinking."