It's amazing what the human body can handle. I can pm if you want to know why, I had a traumatic experience about 2.5 years ago, thats when it started.  Tolerance builds easy, I started off with a handle of vodka a week, but within about two months it grew to one a day. And more.  At the worst I only left the house to go to the liquor store, I'd buy three and need to go back two days later. Messy. As I've said in another comment, a lot of it was due to underlying mental issues, once I got past that I was more or less ok.  I firmly believe that all addicts are hiding from something. I started drinking heavy to not think, but there is a point where the physical takes over, if I'd quit cold turkey/without hospitalization, I would have died. PS- Not that I'm advocating, but I've heard Pepcid AC helps with drinking symptoms!