Hello and welcome to the forums. You'll find a lot of support here.
My drinking accelerated, too, until I would buy cheap vodka.
I was going to the liquor store at 8:30 am and buying two shooters of whiskey for the walk home, and then beer all day from there.
So you could say drinking became a problem for me, too. This went on for five years in the final stages of my alcoholism.
You're wise to recognize you may have a problem now before you hit the lows I did.
I hope your taper works. I never could have doe it, but others here have.
Best to you and stick around and let us know how you're doing. we care.