[know.your.why]

“Why take the first drink?”

Again, you'd have to be an alcoholic to understand. When the alcoholic gets bad news...what "normal" people consider bad news ie. Work Truck Breaks down and needs major engine repairs...a normal person steps back and with an appropriate amount of concern, approaches the problem with logic and methodical, reasonable response. The alcoholic will tend to have a mental breakdown that resembles a panic attack where his mind see's one thing and one thing only that will relieve the maelstrom in his mind. Alcohol. The alcoholic sees alcohol as their only coping mechanism for life. All of the horrible memories of his last ER visit with a .390bac or the last torturous detox-withdrawal process...those memories vanish completely...and there is only one focus. Drink! Now!

[alternatives?]

I understand the chemical dependency. But if you had a parent with a alcohol problem, as a kid, make a vow to never touch the stuff. Cocaine is additive and people have to have it but if you don’t touch it, you never become addicted. Ditto alcohol. Nobody who has never taken a drink is an alcoholic.