He promises to go to meetings, and he does, and they help...for awhile. Then he starts missing meetings and makes excuses. Next thing you know, he's drunk. He's been through residential rehab programs, and kept up with the after- program, for a while. Same story that I've read here so many times. He's lost jobs, a first wife, and been in jail for DUIs. He's also picked himself up, stayed sober for eight years, became a credentialed math teacher. But the last five years have been a downhill slide. It's a vicious, chronic disease.