I have had this attitude to. One friend said x wasn't an alcoholic. He was alcohol dependent. To me the upshot was the same.I felt like it was trivialising how he was with me tho. My life was a nightmare. Now he not trying any more I have realised he is actually a very hard, nasty man with a selfish agenda. He even speaks in a different tone to me now he got nothing left to lose. However he's still Mr Charmer around others. I don't care. No one knows what it's like unless they have walked in our shoes. Thousands divorce people who are not alcoholics, beaters or cheaters too.