The grieving process would be so much tougher and longer with a drink inside you.
Let yourself go through it, somewhere on the other side of the tears and anger and frustration that you may pass through is laughing at your favorite memories and knowing she is there in your heart always.
I lost my Mum back when I was 19 and can assure she is very much with me every day. While I miss her and it took real time to process her passing it does reach a better place. You just have to let yourself actually feel it not numb it up. I guess luckily for me this was all way back when I was actually a pretty sensible drinker. I was often the one at the party who was most clear headed as I sipped so slow I barely ever even got tipsy. funny huh. I know now I would have coped far less well if I had already been a heavy drinker.