Doctors recommend that former alcoholics avoid drinking even one drink. Why do you think that is the case?

Doctors recommend that former alcoholics avoid drinking even one drink because of the risk of relapse into alcohol dependency. Alcoholism is understood to be a chronic disease with both physical and psychological components. Once a person has developed alcoholism, their brain chemistry can be altered in such a way that it becomes very difficult to moderate their drinking.

The "one drink" can be particularly dangerous because it can reawaken the individual's cravings and the psychological pattern of addiction. Additionally, the individual's tolerance for alcohol might have decreased after a period of abstinence, increasing the risk of overindulgence and its negative consequences.

Furthermore, even a small amount of alcohol can trigger a former alcoholic's habit and the compulsive behavior associated with it. The idea of "just one drink" can be deceptive and could lead to justified reasoning for more drinks, which could culminate in a full relapse into addictive behaviors.

Doctor's advice to abstain completely helps to provide a clear boundary for the recovering alcoholic, eliminating any grey areas that might lead to a potential relapse.