Have a look at this paragraph from the link provided by the moderator:
"Alcohol dependence,
confirmed by medical enquiry, requires licence revocation or refusal until a 1 year period free from alcohol problems has been attained. Abstinence will normally be required, with normalisation of blood parameters, if relevant"
The medical enquiry will be in the form of a CDT blood test, taken during the medical.
Red Zone
3.00 or above is a fail with a 12 month exclusion. This zone is seen as indicative of alcohol dependency
Amber Zone
2.9 to 2.3 will result in further enquiries with your GP. If you fail, then there is a 6 month exclusion. This zone is indicative of alcohol misuse.
Green Zone
2.2 or below. This is a straight pass. (Green Zone)
If you are green zone then you cannot fail the DVLA medical. You will be issued with a 10 year licence.
Where you are likely to encounter a problem is if you are at the higher end of the Amber zone. With your prior history, they are likely to fail you. If you pass in the Amber zone you will be given a temporary 1 or 3 year licence, with a requirement to take the medical again at the end of either period.
In order to have a CDT level of 2.2 or lower, you will need to abstain from alcohol for 3 to 5 months.
The DVLA will not make any conclusions until you have taken the test. Regardless of a prior detox programme, you are entitled to take this test, and if you are green zone then you pass, because that means you are drinking well below the levels that are indicative of misuse or dependency.
You can ask your GP about taking a separate
CDT test to access your levels prior to the actual DVLA medical. It is available privately at a cost of around £170.00. If your GP agrees, then you could get it on the NHS for free.
I hope this helps.
Don't lose hope.
M