Hmmmmm...that's interesting....do you believe, as some do, that alcoholism is genetic?
Regarding genetics:
I think it is a huge risk factor for alcoholism.
But I do know several people who were raised by alcoholics that never touch a drop. They have been there, and don't want to return to that world.
This is a major health problem that destroys many, many families.
I think that people who cannot control their drinking have something about their body or mind that is different from people who do not have this problem. Genetics seem to be involved, IMHO. I know that I will be talking with my children about this as they get older-- that they need to be extra vigilant.
I can summarize the current thought on your question.
Alcoholism is a bio-psycho-social-spiritual condition. In other words it has factors of all of these.
We can demonstrate it biological component thru a number of ways.
The genetic factor has been demonstrated thru what are called "twin studies". As you probably know identical twins are genetically identically, the result of a splitting of a single fertilized ovum. What was done in the 1950s and 60's was researches went to the Scandnavian countries, which have had socialized medicine since before WW II. This gave them a centralized database to work from. They looked at identical twins who had at least one parent who was diagnosed with alcoholism. They then looked at only those that had, for whatever reason, be separated shortly after birth and raised in separate homes - one in a home with practicing alcoholics and the other in a home where there was no identified alcoholism.
This attempts to control for the "nuture" effect. What they found was in the children raised in alcoholic homes 43% of those children were alcoholic by middle age. Additional they found in the children raised in non-alcoholic homes - 43% of the children were alcoholic by middle age!. There are over 400 English language studies of this type recorded in the literature since the 1950's, all with similiar results.
Additionally from the biological and psychological angles we have to look at the long-term effects of chronic alcohol and drug poisoning on the human brain. Recent work by Dr. Terrance Gorski in this area has demonstrated pretty definitely that this damage can take anywhere from 7-11 years to fully heal. During this 7-11 years the alcoholic's reasoning, memory and perception is qualitatively impaired as demostrated by psychological testing.
Socially the alcoholic develops a drug/alcohol centered social life and value system/personality that must be systematically addressed. This is the primary function of support networks such as AA/NA/CA and the 12 Steps.
Since man is a synthesis of body and spirit one must also address the spiritual maladies of alcoholism. In short - pathological self-centeredness - what AA has always called "self-will run riot". The 12-steps of AA/NA/CA are also heavily involved in this area - in fact the 12th step tells us the process of recovery is primarily a spiritual process: "Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps..."
From a Christian perspective the alcoholic indulges in the sin of gluttony and "that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin" (Jn 8:34).
The truth of this is born out in the remedy of AA which at it core can be described as "one alcoholic staying sober by helping another alcoholic to do the same". So as Christ teaches - love for one another is the solution.
In fact this method of recovery - the 12 steps - based on the core of one alcoholic helping another is the only modality of treatment that has had any signficant level of success in treating perhaps one of the most complicated and destructive maladies known to man.
This is probably somewhat anecdotal, but I have noticed that quite a few drinkers, ex-drinkers, smokers and ex-smokers have one thing in common: A tendency towards hypoglycemia.
Alcohol and tobacco both do the same thing...raise blood sugar levels.
In individuals who quit smoking, many grab a hard candy to fill in the intervals. I do think that some of these "addictions" are physical in nature...because they fulfill the bodies immediate need for a surge in energy. If indeed, they are hypoglycemic...the sugar high can be pretty potent. GTF chromium (Glucose tolerance factor) can be very useful for anyone quitting sugar as it will help balance your sugar levels.
Everything is genetic**
I forget the contribution genetics seems to make--15-20% or some such.
We all have predispositions to sin this way or that. We can all choose to resist and the enemy will flee. NOT easy in many cases whether it's food, alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever.
It's not what life hands us that's the problem--it's how we respond. And we all have our load to tote.
For the answer read Dr. James Milam's "Under the Influence", one of the most valuable books for treatment people as well as those trying to recover. The studies of ethnicity and the incidence of alcoholism, as well as twin studies,prove the genetic component. Alcoholics and non-alcoholics have different body chemistries and as a result process alcohol differently. This explains the increase in tolerance in the alcoholic and not the non-alcoholic. Unfortunately, alcoholics, are lumped in with problem drinkers, which they may or may not be, and oftentimes receive treatment for a behavior rather than the phisiological aspects of alcoholism,ie. malnutrition, and more importantly for the long term, unstable blood glucose levels. Dr. Milam ran one of the most successful programs, with long term sobriety the norm rather than the exception. Anyone affected by alcoholism MUST get this book and follow the recommendation to the letter for life long AA meeting free sobriety.