On Page 24:1, the Big Book Says: "The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink."

In the original manuscript, the same entire paragraph was underlined and the language is stronger:

"The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically non-existent. We are unable at certain times, no matter how well we understand ourselves, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink."

If this is true, then how can an informed, loving and caring person say "well, he chose to drink" or "It was his choice" when learning that a struggling A.A. has had a 'slip' or a relapse into drinking?