Comment by ellius

Alcohol is a problem exactly insofar as it negatively affects your life. The problem is that, like all drugs—indeed, all vices of any kind—the thing itself is exactly what will convince you that it's not causing problems. If you live a long, full life, if your health and relationships aren't suffering, who's to say there's anything wrong with it? But it's very hard for an individual in it to know that those things are true.