From where I'm now I would look at it as a cognitive malfunction that makes us think we have to drink to "solve" or "deal with" whatever's not going right in our lives. Which leads to a physical addiction which I see as a chronicle illness.
That's my general outlook on it. Weirdly though I still feel guilty and ashamed cause I became addicted and realising I am an alcoholic has lowered my self esteem very much in the beginning. Now I'm just starting to get to know my sober self and luckily all the good things like being good at socialising at parties even though I'm an introvert are still there when I'm sober.
Sometimes I still think that I ****** it up with the drinking and tell myself that if I had been more careful then I wouldnt have to call myself an alcoholic now and could still enjoy a glass every once in a while (which I never did).