There is really only one way to know if you can control your drinking and that is to try it. If you can control it you are one of the lucky ones. If after trying if you can't control it than abstinence is probably your only route.
As far as recovery options, whatever works for you is the best way for you. I think people are just sharing what worked best for them and it happens that more people use AA than other methods. Hopefully they aren't saying that is the only way because it's not.