The phenomenon of craving, an overpowering desire to consume more alcohol, only affected me after the fatal first drink, not before. The lack of an effective mental defense which entailed little or no thinking was where the problem really lay. I either drank without thought or completely folded when the seemingly innocent thought came that "a drink would be nice". That thought easily overpowered any thoughts to the contrary.
A complete psychic change through living the 12 steps has meant that thought rarely comes. If tempted I recoil as if from a hot flame. Think about that. Recoiling from a hot flame is an involuntary action and a natural response to danger. It happens automatically and does not require thought or strategizing. That is the power of God and the steps.