dipsomania

noun

Etymology: From dipso- (“thirst; drinking”) + -mania.

1. Addiction to alcohol.
2. Specifically periodic alcoholism, characterized by bouts of heavy drinking rather than continuous indulgence in alcohol.
3. A strong craving for something.

   “A most ingenuous youth was Master Snape, round-eyed, round-cheeked, with an ever ready smooth and round unvarnished tale—a youth afflicted with a dipsomania for information.”

   “"You must regard my passion for painting," he began once more, "as a sort of dipsomania—I really can't help myself."”