I think Laucta raises a very important point to make.
Maybe the last stage of alcoholism is much of the same for almost most alcoholics in terms of hard wired addictive behavior and dysfunctionalityto lead your life. But before that, ways getting there maybe different, the profile of addictive beahior as well.
To me, based on my story, which does not fit into most stories told here as well, it seems key to understand your own needs, reasons and profiles to drink in order to stop drinking - before you get to that last stage, where it seems common to reach rock bottom and it is mandatory to stop drinking immidiately.