An alcohol-dependent person has a strong and uncontrolled desire to drink alcohol that takes over family or professional commitments despite the consequences this addiction has on their physical and mental health (physical addiction). The social environment has a very strong impact: anxiety, stress, family problems, isolation, violence are factors facilitating dependence. The person frequently fails to control these factors and seeks appeasement, relaxation, facilitation of social relations in the anxiolytic effects of alcohol. With time alcohol tolerance sets in, i.e. the quantity required to obtain the desired effect increases. Multidisciplinary treatment is necessary, sometimes it takes several years to achieve abstinence.