Final answer:
Alcoholics in the United States often alternate between periods of sobriety and heavy drinking, regardless of their socioeconomic status or age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The BEST description of alcoholics in the United States is that they often alternate between periods of sobriety and heavy drinking. While some stereotypes may suggest that alcoholics are usually poor and homeless or college students, these are not accurate generalizations. Alcoholism affects people from all walks of life, and the pattern of alternating between periods of sobriety and heavy drinking is a common characteristic of alcoholism.