I think even when you make 'funny' comments there is still a serious background, no?
I recently got in touch with that problem because a friend started 'to lose' himself: his drinking carreer started years ago when he got a big box of different bottles of alcohol (wine, Whiskey, Sherry, etc.) as part of an inheritance. Every evening he took a drink, he felt relaxed, the world looked a bit more rosy. Then he drank 2-3 glasses of wine - sometimes more - every evening, in public events as well as at home. Then, whenever he felt a certain tension (job, family, whatever), he drank a glass of vodka and felt better. As a consequence his skin changed, his behaviour against family and friends changed, his barrier of control sank (he made remarks that more often hit the vis-à-vis), his hands began to tremble, he became depressed (therefore needed more alcohol to feel 'happy' again) and many more obvious signs occurred. Fortunately he has some good friends who noticed all this and who spoke seriously with him in a way he could accept his alcoholism without feeling he is 'worthless' because he is an addict. In the meantime he is sober and makes a therapy. He feels very good now and is a much better friend again, although it is not easy to face the problems.
So I think that the background
why someone is drinking and the significance of alcohol (when thoughts go more often around the question where to get the next drink and always to have enough handy) plays an important role. To watch whether it is possible to stop drinking - and how it feels then - is a good indicator.
Alcoholism is a way to commit suicide.
Every crisis is also a chance.
We can decide.
Caren
Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. (Groucho Marx)