As someone whose life has been greatly affected/effected(never get those right) by a family member, it definitely is a disease. I've learned more than I ever wanted to know about addiction. That being said, it's a very controllable disease after treatment. That is when it takes a disciplined person to be successfully sober. Sadly many don't have the ability to stay sober. The long term success rate is pretty bad. That being said, pilots are some of the most successful of any demographic by a wide margin. From what I've witnessed the ones that get out of rehab, find a group, get a sponsor who's a pretty rigid, follow that sponsors advice (even if they don't like it) and stay away from the losers in the group they do fine. Now I don't know whether this guy is an alcoholic or just f'ed up. But anyone that thinks this is not a disease is just ignorant.