My idea of an A was an elderly, unkempt man with long hair and beard who lives on a park bench. Who drinks nasty rough cheap drinks straight from the bottle.
I am an A and I am a financially comfortable, well groomed lady in my 50s. I drank posh wine in posh glasses! Then moved on to vodka mixed with diet coke as I didn't want to be fat.
I think what I am saying is there is no typical alkie.