Mouse, as I think you know, I have my own reservations about AA. For one thing I don't believe we are "alcoholics" from the moment we were born and we will always be.
I'm living proof that that is a big wrong statement.
I think that until you are willing to grow up and leave the hiding behind of a bottle on a side, you are going to fall back to the same habits.
I was drinking everyday of the week, back when I was 16. I was going to school drunk and coming back home the same way. I can be a pretty good actress, it seems, because none of the grown up around me took me seriously. And if it wasn't because I hit my 20 and I saw how bad things were going, I'd be still drinking like that or maybe dead by now.
I changed inside; I wanted to take charge and stop being stupid.
I hadn't had a drink until last year, I'm 33 now. And now I feel I can enjoy a nice glass of wine when with friends. I wont’ let anything take that away from me. I’m not getting drunk and I’m being mature. Do I have tendencies? Yes, my whole family is full of alcoholics. Am I going to let the alcohol take control in my life again? No way. I won’t ever again let the alcohol define who I am.
I hope I’m of any help.
Take care~