"I had to accept that I was an alcoholic, that was the main thing. I think you've got to. But I try not say that I'm an alcoholic. I prefer to say that it's a disease I've got"

Paul Gascoigne's quote talks to the problem of accepting one's own alcohol addiction. He acknowledges that it is necessary to accept that he is an alcoholic, but he likewise expresses a desire to not label himself as such. This recommends that he understands the preconception related to alcohol addiction and is trying to distance himself from it. He rather selects to refer to it as a "disease" he has, which indicates that it is something he is dealing with, but not something that defines him. This quote reflects the internal battle of accepting one's own alcoholism and the problem of fixing up the stigma associated with it. It likewise speaks with the significance of self-acceptance and the requirement to acknowledge that alcoholism is an illness, not a character defect. Eventually, Gascoigne's quote is a tip that alcoholism is a severe issue that must be attended to with empathy and understanding.