“This all started with that “alcoholism is a disease” stuff back in the mid-60s.”
I always thought by doing this it relieved the alcoholic of the responsibility for his actions.
It is an addiction that needs to be dealt with on that basis.
Cancer is a disease.
The book ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS makes it abundantly clear that NO ONE is to be let off the hook because he has a disease. The reason is there is a way out. Take the way out or pay the consequences.