.............but I suspect his exposure to either it or its effects may be intimate........
Correct. I'm not prepared to elaborate other than to say it isn't me that is the alcoholic, but it sure affects my life, and yes, I may be biased and bigotted as a result. Capt. Prouse has accurately stated that it isn't necessary to be way over the limit, it's like a switch in the brain that is activated almost at the sight of the bottle, and others have to then deal with the consequences.
......It's easy for me to go to a casino, place a $5 bet, then walk away. For the life of me I cannot understand why a compuslive gambler just can't do the same.......
because he is ALREADY a compulsive gambler - that answers your own question - but why is he/she ? Were they a compulsive gambler before they ever went near their first casino ? Probably voluntarily, tho' of course there might have been a lot of peer pressure, or simply idle curiosity.
Thank you, Capt. Prouse, for your frank and honest discourse, I'm outta here now.