It sounds very possible you have not been fired. I'd never heard of the expression "soft-fired" before and assumed you meant that they tried to get you to resign rather than terminate you. But it sounds like you just stopped showing up and they stopping assigning you hours and there hasn't been a formal termination at all.
You mentioned being drunk on the job and you mentioned your boss offering you health insurance after you left. If they are aware you have a drinking problem, they may be concerned to formally terminate you, in case you have some sort of claim.
Or they may be offering you an opportunity to get health insurance and get medical help for the drinking.
If they are government owned, they could be a very generous organisation.
Unless you ask them, you won't know. And since (it seems) you had written off the job in your mind, you have nothing to lose by asking. And everything to gain ... i.e. the cool job back. And if you are not going in drunk, chances are you are actually going to enjoy it.
It's a chance to do something, vulturine. Possibly to get clean with financial help too. I hope you take it. You are a smart individual by the sounds of it. Take a chance here and you could end up with the wind at your back.