Right now he says he is the happiest he has ever been and has no desire to have a beer. That is why I say what I say about him not really being an alcoholic, but just a person who needs help getting past bad feelings about themself.
As a recovering alcoholic (23 years) I very rarely think about alcohol but I'm still an alcoholic. A non-a can decide to have a one or two drinks and no problem. But if I pick up a drink I may think I'll have a drink or two but won't be able to stop. I lack some switch in the brain that helps me stop. If I go back to drinking I won't be able to prevent my life from going in a downward spiral.