KK-the old myth that Vodka does not give one alcohol breath. HA! There was one bloke at an AA meeting I went to in the hills. Cold- but not that cold. This guy was in a polar coat, with a hoodie pulled down so far over his face - he had no face. He reeked of alcohol and breath freshener. As you said, not like one of the walking dead- but one of them.
I was just talking to a guy- jail bird, drugs. Big guy- used to have to be held down by 4 police when he was drunk. Caused other people serious damage. He then said quite openly that he was abused as a child. He now paints, does gym work, meditates- everything he can do to get his life back. That is the key I think- to have the ability to turn a revolting destructive past into a positive learning tool.