are you sure he’s an alcoholic (alcohol gets in the way of daily functions) versus has a drinking problem (feels a need to get drunk at innapropriate times?)
The two are NOT the same.
Alcoholism is an addiction, which has nothing to do with the act of being drunk, and is a psychological problem that requires an intervention, therapy, AA, Rehab, etc.
Having a drinking problems is also very bad, but the person does not have an uncontrollable addiction, they are physically and psychologicly capable of being sober, they just dont see a reason why they should be. alcoholics are not capable of being sober without getting help.