Originally Posted by fire_of_avalon
Just to be clear, one of the first things that's taught in substance abuse classes is that while you MAY have a problem outside yourself that other people don't understand, and while this problem MAY be very difficult to control, it is controllable. In other words, just because you're an alcoholic doesn't mean you don't have a choice, and doesn't mean you're unaware of that choice. In other words, throwing you hands in the air and saying "I can't help it! I'm an alcoholic." doesn't get you very far, legally speaking. Because there's always help, if you choose to take it.
So I think the only way their apparent alcoholism would factor into a case such as this would be to even further prove their irresponsibility. While that DOES serve as a blow to recovering alcoholics the world over, and to the view of alcoholism as a legitimate physical condition, it's nothing but the truth.