Alcoholism is uncontrolled drinking.  A lot of people drink every single day, but control it.  Really just depends, not everyone who drinks everyday needs to be in AA meetings.  I drink a shit load personally, definitely addicted as I do find myself thinking about it if I go long enough without it.  Oddly similar to a nicotine addiction, you always find yourself thinking about it, but nicotine addiction seems to be a little bit more intense, or at least it was for me when I quit.  Definitely have a dependence on alcohol, and drink most days, but not everyday.  I don't drink prior to work, and I definitely don't drink in settings i'm not supposed to.  I definitely don't drink enough to feel crappy the next day.  But I can easily drink 1-6 drinks a night after work no problem.  But, I can also go days or weeks without it.

Real alcoholism, is when you drink so much that it controls and ruins your life.  My brother was a honest to god true alcoholic.  He would drink every second of every day, and if he wasn't drinking he was finding a way to get his hands on it.  He would pass out taking a shit.  He would get fired for pissing his pants at work after passing out.  He got DUI's, and he drank so much he would get evicted from his apartment, because he couldn't afford rent from spending it all on booze.  When he couldn't drive anymore he would ride his bike to the store to get more, and when he finally got hit by a car crossing an intersection he would walk the 2 miles to the store to get more.

And, maybe there are certainly levels of alcoholism, but certainly is a difference between a drinker, and an alcoholic in my book.