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Although Alcoholics Anonymous speaks of alcohol allergy in the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous), Alcoholism is not actually an allergy.

Rather than being a rejection reaction by the immune system, alcohol addiction is an adaptation of the body -- principally the brain -- to the point of being unable to function efficiently without alcohol. This does not meet the medical definition of an allergy, but it was the best explanation they could come up with based on the medical knowledge of 75 years ago.

We would not, however, suggest arguing this point with your sponsor or other old-timers. In a practical sense, if we treat alcoholism as an allergic reaction to alcohol the effect will be the same -- alcoholics need to avoid alcohol.

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15y ago

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