Common sense ...
Given I suffer from alcoholism which as I understand it is a two fold illness/disease comprising of a physical allergy and a mental obsession ( see 'The Doctor's Opinion' in the book 'Alcoholics Anonymous' 4th Ed.) as opposed to an addiction to alcohol, which comprises solely of a mental obsession, I really couldn't comment.
But common sense aligned with the fact this is the Alcoholism forum suggest it's an old wives tale...perhaps not least because alcoholism is the only illness/disease that'll kill you whilst at the same time telling you, you haven't got it! Which indicates the chances of quitting and then picking it up again either don't really exist or are at best limited...as I understand it death tends to be permanent.