Unfortunately, people do indeed die as a result of alcoholism. In some ways I view it as a form of slow suicide. ANd like anyone else who chooses to commit suicide, there is little anyone can do about it. Sure you might be able to have the person committed. But even if you can do that, they mental health system can only do so much and will not keeep them institutionalized for long. Its a sad fact that sometimes people do die form alcholism no matter what they do or the people around them try to do.