Controlled drinking is an oxy-moron for problem drinkers\alcoholics, imo. Its all about what any one individual is satisfied with as a quality of life. There is no secret recipe for success or happiness -- we all know for ourselves neither can found at the bottom of any bottle. Still, some drinkers just refuse to accept misery and failure is easily found in moderated or controlled drinking.
Total abstinence/sobriety rocks. Anything less is not progress, but simply breaks between drinks, imo.