Think about it, the phenomenon of craving is not due to the alcohol. If it were, everyone would react the same way! Something about the alcoholic, we are bodily and mentally different.
The dictionary definition of a problem is "a harmful or unwanted situation that needs to be dealt with or overcome." So when a moderate or hard drink deals with and overcomes alcohol - by stopping or moderating - he solves his problem. His problem is alcohol.
But yes, we are all spiritually sick to some degree. Maybe back in 1939, people were comfortable and familiar with this idea of original sin. It's something to think about. We are born into it. Certainly we alcoholics know about stepping on other peoples toes, hiding our bad motives with seemingly good motives, to lead a double life, to appear modest and self-sacrificing, but run the show.
And perhaps our physical and mental struggles with alcohol do make this problem worse, I don't think is too much of a stretch. Maybe we drank more normally at some point in of our lives; maybe we crossed a line. Man on the material plane, satisfying his instincts, pursuing his desires, exercising his will power, naturally puts him at odds with other people and with God. But throw some coke and booze on that shit, and you're off to the races.
And so: The alcoholic is an extreme case of a person whose problem is alcohol, and he usually knows this is. No, it says an alcoholic is an extreme case of self-will run riot, and he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of alcohol. No wait, it says selfishness.. We could reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. No wait, it says we had to have God's help.
You see this is the straightening. The word spiritual can just mean relationship. All of our relationships - including the one with our Higher Consciousness - are bent or broken. We're not trafficking in huge religious lectures here. For some of us, this can be as simple as "there's more to this world than just you" or "don't you see you alcohol has been your God, that you've been running on faith this whole time." That it is in man's nature to be driven by something, and for us it has been fear, resentment, King Alcohol.
This is where I start sponsoring people. In one of the Forewords, it says that we are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered. Who have recovered. They were reborn. They solved the drinking problem. They overcame the spiritual malady and straightened out physically and mentally. What occured in the span of few months could not be accomplished after years of self-discipline.
People don't use this word everywhere but I think it helps shed some light on your question. There it is, right at the beginning.
This is a great conversation and I enjoy Big Book Pepsi Challenges a lot.