sounds pretty much like what I experienced for a long, long time.
Some days I am soundly in the camp that it is TOTALLY alcoholism.
Some days.... I just don't know whether 'alcoholism' or some other term... but I do firmly know this;
Whatever it is, whatever the label, it is not a cycle that serves me, nor my loved ones, nor the world around me.
That's why I choose the path of sobriety and why I go to AA and why I'm working the steps and coming here and striving to live the best life I can free of booze because it's VERY clear that is a better path for me.