I think there are a large number of factors that contribute to alcohol abuse...and for me, low frustration tolerance is one of them. When I reflect back on my life (and I of course am only speaking for me).. I didn't really learn any other way to neither deal ..nor have fun. Alcohol was very much a part of my upbringing and felt like some sort of right of passage. Emotions were just an embarrassing weakness one was shamed for. I came from a very "suck it up buttercup" sort of mentality and when I think about it...shoving some thing in my mouth..food, booze, cigarettes was a way of handling every discomfort.
I formed some very unhealthy habits and maladjusted coping mechanisms a long, long time ago...
The struggle today is...so how do I live now? My relationship with alcohol was not one of physical addiction..but very, very, very much emotional. I soldier on...