Denial may be shared by family members and co-workers, usually for different reasons. Once an alcoholic, always and alcoholic. Alcoholism is a disease for which recovery is guaranteed if the alcoholic begins and sticks with a recovery program. If not, what's guaranteed is a premature death. All alcoholics are skid row drunks.
Alcoholics drink every day.
Alcohol abuse patterns vary. Some people daily, and others only on weekends. If an alcoholic can stop drinking, he or she doesn't have a problem. But no one dare talk about it. Maybe it will go away if we ignore it and if we are good enough.