Originally Posted by
Gottalife 
Alcohol is my drug of no choice, so I'm an alcoholic. The term addict, referring to someone who suffers from addiction to a substance, seems to narrow a term for me.
Alcohol is not addictive, to most people, where as addiction can be created amongst many with other substances. The cigarette is a classic example.
Addiction is using a substance or behavior despite not wanting to. Eating cookies while trying to loose weight would be a perfect example of addiction. Shopping on Amazon while building credit card debt would be another. Don't get hung up on definitions. If you used alcohol with undesired consequences but drank anyhow your an addict, in my book.
I just find the term more contemporary than alcoholic. It's alright if you see yourself as different though. I did for a while too. Then again this is all just my opinion too. I find many need to distance themselves from the word due to socio economic needs.