You are just like me, except I didn't have the fear of not drinking at functions. If I had to drive or whatever, e.g. walk around Disneyang for 2 days, I would not drink.
Otherwise, I would have a 4 or 6 shots a few times a week. But, my problem was binging. Sometimes, I would over drink a 750 ml. In 2 days. I rationalized I was just finishing off the bottle. Never drove drunk to buy more. But, sometimes I would finish a bottle of whiskey, and then drink a few beers, sometimes warm, that I had in the garage.
The long hangovers, I learned, we're withdrawals. The ready to drink, ya!, I am ready for the weekend feeling, was just a cycle in my death spiral.
Google kindling and PAWS.