When I was younger I had Tourettes Syndrome (the non swearing variety). As the years have passed the habits have subsided until I hardly notice them now. They now take the form of mental habits, rather than physical, and they´re manageable. If I am stressed, tired or angry they will resurface physically again, and I have to concéntrate hard not to roll my eyes, twist my head or make odd facial expressions. Alcohol certainly helped initially. It seemed to calm everything down, so I could sit still without figiting all the time so it´s no wonder that I self medicated with it when ever I could.
Obsessive compulsive disorder and various other habit forming mental illnesses probably feature quite highly in the average alcoholic. Though I never met anyone in AA who has obvious physical habits.
I have no idea if TS is genetic, but I began to develop it after something that happened to me when I was 5. Up to that point, as far as I can recall there was no problema.