For alcoholics, complete abstinence is a requirement. Many alcoholics who seek treatment find success and they learn to abstain totally from alcohol. However, the majority, as many as 90%, relapse at least once during the four years following treatment. Fifty percent relapse within the first few months. Sometimes a relapse is a necessary part of finding out that they can not just enjoy an occasional drink. It is important to get help as soon as you or relatives/friends suspect there is a problem.
For the average regular drinker where addiction is not a problem, continued drinking may have some health, social and psychological benefits. However, each of these seeming benefits can be achieved by other means. So if it looks like the benefits of regular alcohol consumption is balanced or outweighed by negative consequences, it is appropriate to reduce or stop drinking entirely at least for a trial period of time. If you find it especially difficult to stop, alcohol use may be more of a problem than you had thought.