Why? I want to understand what makes someone be a closet drinker as opposed to my mom who is a social drinker ( also drinks at home but doesnt hide it).
Nobody knows for certain why alcoholics are alcoholics. Or, why anyone becomes addicted to
any substance. All we know for sure is that it hits about 10% of the population and the theories abound. Genetic, a defect in the reward system of the brain, environment, etc, etc.
You can wonder until the cows come home why one person can drink moderately and another cannot, but science has no answer in sight. The most common reason that people hide their drinking is shame. Especially women. And it is very common for the drinker to hide their drinks and then drink moderately in front of others. My old routine.