JSM - No one knows for sure. Some people can drink alcoholically for many years, others have liver failure and die suddenly.
In the late stages of alcoholism, the alcohol stops working for most people. Then, they end up dead, in jail, or worse.
My point is that while this is really hard, with support, you can do this.
I highly recommend going to AA and actively working a program of recovery. Read SR, work with other alcoholics, get a sponsor.
I'm not trying to be overly dramatic, so just read SR -- it will give you the best examples. There are a lot of stories of people in the late stages of alcoholism here.
You can avoid all these problems by doing something that is simple in theory but hard in practice.
When you are ready, you will be ready. I wish you the best.