Well, actually I wasn't addressing the merits of his case. I was commenting on the pettifoggery (in just my opinion)of the language.
The dude may well BE an alcoholic, but if HE doesn't admit it it doesn't help anyone or change anything. What the lawyer said is actually quite true in recovery terms. There's no objective standard (that ( know of) for alcoholism. That's why it's a very dangerous diagnosis -- because it can be used to "get" people.