Anxious ,
I am a recovering addict /alcoholic with close to four years of recovery.Although I am not a professional counselor or anything near that I do have experience in the lifestyle and know why I did the things I did. I personally do not believe that the use of alcohol has caused his depression but rather that his depression may be causing him to drink. In not dealing with the issues he's having in his life and trying to "drink" them away he is only letting them compound. Whether he is rich or poor , has everything or nothing he remains the same as everyone else on earth , human. The only humans I know who have no problems in the world are six feet under. Not trying to be morbid but trying to be blunt.
Also , just because he has not been deemed an alcoholic does not mean that he isn't , nor does it mean that he may not have alcoholic tendencies. When he comes 'round from his last drinking binge , or is recovering from his last hangover he still has his unresolved issues standing there waiting for him. Though he may be a successfull business man he may not have the emotional tools to deal with other aspects of his life. If you really are concerned about him you might think about coming right out and asking him how he's doing. If you get the pat answer of "ok" tell him no , how are you really doing and show him how you are genuinely concerned and want to know if you can help in any way. At times just being there to listen is the best help you can offer.
I hope this helps in some way. Best of luck.
Jr

Just because someone drinks and likes it doesn't make them an alcoholic. When you can't stop, or it is all you want to do, etc. Then you may be an alcoholic.
Also, it doesn't matter how "great" his life is, depression is an illness, and just because you think his life is great because he is rich or whatever doesn't mean he is going to be happy. You can be upset "over a girl" or over a death of a close friend or family member, etc., but depression in itself isn't always caused by events in one's life.
Nor, does the fact that he likes to have a beer here and there throughout the day, drink wine with dinner, or have beer when he has guests doesn't mean he is depressed.
If your friend was drinking all day everyday, or getting drunk everyday, or drinking and driving or poisoning himself then I would definately worry if I were you. But just because his lifestyle includes alcohol doesn't mean you should get upset over it. No, drinking everyday and getting drunk 2-4 times a week isn't a healthy way of life, but as long as he isn't hurting anyone or himself, then there really isn't a cause for concern.

The big book of alcoholics anonymous calls the kind of depression that brings people into the program as “incomprehensible demoralization at depth”
so yea, drinking can cause serious depression.

As to your other question, is he an alcoholic? There is a fairly easy way to determine that.
If when he honestly wants to, can he stop?
(no booze for a month, see if he can do it. A real alcoholic will not find that easy to do)
or when drinking he has little control over how much he drinks. (let him try one or two shots of his favorite stuff, then stop abruptly, no more that day, do it more than once)

we drink because we have to, not because we want to.

Alcohol can't do anything to us unless it does something for us first.
In each generation something like 5% to 7% of the population have an unnatural reaction to alcohol. And that reaction is to turns an otherwise bland existence into a technicolor world.
It lets us feel like other people look. Complete.
The vast majority of people who drink aren't alcoholics, and they aren't going to become alcoholics in the future. Why? Because alcohol doesn't do that something special for them. When they have a few drinks, they start feeling like they are losing control and they stop.
Us on the other hand, after a few drinks, we feel like we’re just starting to gain control. A completely different reaction. And after enough time, we come to rely on alcohol to fix the way we feel. To fix the way we see the world.
And in time, that reliance became a dependence, and in turn that dependence became full blown alcoholism.
Your friend may or may not be an alcoholic, he may or may not be relying on alcohol to improve his view of the world, and no one can tell him if alcohol is interfering in his life.
Only time can tell.
Given enough time, it will become abundantly self clear if he is one of us or not.
Over any appeasable length of time alcoholism only gets worse, it never gets better.
He’ll know what he is in time.
I hope he finds himself among the normal people,
but if not, remember that aa is that last house on the block for drunks like us.

On the road to the good stuff,
richard s.

Well...You friend is not going to survive for long if he continues with his present routine. Consuming alcohol for a long time, has its effects on the body. Apart from damaginf the liver, alcohol may cause a lot of physical as well as mental problems including depression to the person concerned.