Tamer, yes it does matter. Because people who believe 100% that it is a disease are sooner or later going to be disappointed.
Some alcoholics I know tell everyone (even co-workers) that they are a "recovery alcoholic". Just imagine if the person your telling had a family member killed by drunken driving! Or imagine if they were robbed the week prior and the robber smelled of booze! Many alcoholics cross the line into criminal behavior. No other medical disease causes this behavior. The criminal type alcoholics give the bad image that some people embrace.