Is Alcohol Dependency Really a Choice? Why So Many Still Struggle?

Bruce Rose

Published on: 12/05/2025

"Why don’t they just stop?" It’s a familiar question — one that often leads to frustration, judgement, and misunderstanding. For years, alcohol dependency has been viewed through the lens of morality or self-control. But science paints a different picture: alcohol use disorder (AUD) is not a lifestyle choice, but a chronic condition shaped by changes in brain function.