[QUOTE=SadieLady;1156079]I think Richie's idea of sober living is not the absence of drinking but the absence of being stupidly drunk. With that reasoning, 8 years ago he tried to adjust his lifestyle but have had a few "slips." There are people who drink responsibly who are considered non-drunks; it is just that given Richie's history, there will always be a worry that he won't be able stop drinking before that point." {Quote}

I see your point, but I feel that perhaps in his mind he has been struggling with sobriety for 8 years. As if, the fact that he is fighting it, is sobriety. A start maybe? There are at least two acknowledged rehabs and a very public DUI in that time. That is more than a few sips. People drink everyday without it becoming an affect on their day to day lives - addicts loose that control and can't afford to gamble. The counter restarts with any little slip or sip for true sobriety. Not going into long story again but raised by alcoholic with 5 rehabs & never beat it. I understand better than I want. Met many and heard it all. Concerns me how he views sobriety IF that is what he really meant to say. All I can say is that on the Today interview, he seemed clean.