First, like other illnesses Alcoholism happens without knowing it. Secondly Alcoholism is progressive over a period of time it gets worse, the longer it goes untreated the worse it gets. And lastly Alcoholism can be fatal, either directly by having it, or indirectly as the result of problems it causes. Anyone who makes light of this very serious and potentially fatal illness is being quite foolish. I can only imagine the great amount of shame one must feel when they realize their life is to be lost to a totally treatable preventable illness like Alcoholism. Indeed nobody today needs to die from this illness, and that wasn't always the case. There is a very effective treatment that has been developed that allows one to live with this illness without having to succumb to it.