I used to wish AH would get a DUI all the time. I thought that if he got a DUI then I would be able to convince him that his alcohol problem was not just in my head. Because, according to AH, only those who have legal problems or beat their wives are *real* alcoholics. However, that was back when I was convinced that he could be persuaded by logic, reason, and evidence. Since alcoholics don't deal in logic, I have no doubt that if AH had gotten a DUI there would have been yet another excuse, denial, or flat out quack-fest.
But to answer your question, yes, I do think it's common to wish for a big, obvious, tangible consequence to get the alcoholic's attention. Sometimes legal trouble does get their attention. However, until they are ready to get help, they can rationalize the insane, justify the unjustifiable, and continue to try to make you believe you are the one with the problem.