# Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-an-alcoholic-always-an-alcoholic/592291>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 11, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-an-alcoholic-always-an-alcoholic/592291 "2011-08-11T02:49:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4

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**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-an-alcoholic-always-an-alcoholic/592291/4 "2011-08-11T03:26:34Z")

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Alcoholism is not a disease, it’s a character flaw. Diseases are not bottled and sold for profit. Nobody ever ran down to the corner store for a six pack of smallpox. A person either has the ability to control their use of intoxicants, or they do not. If you lack that ability, you’re an alcoholic, and shouldn’t drink.

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