Alcoholism is a disabling and addictive disorder characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol despite its negative health, relationship, and social effects. Like other drug addictions, alcoholism is medically defined as a treatable disease. The term alcoholism was first coined in 1849 but was replaced in medicine by concepts of alcohol abuse and dependence in the 1980s, as an expert WHO committee also disfavored its use as a diagnostic entity.