I'm not an alcoholic because my Dad was an abuser, or because I broke up with my man, or because I didn't get what I wanted for dinner.
I know I'm an alcoholic because I have a physical compulsion to drink alcohol coupled with a mental obsession that tells me that drinking alcohol is a good idea and drinking more alcohol is an even better idea. I have a chronic disease in which I crave alcohol and I am unable to control my drinking. That's why I'm an alcoholic.