This is a very broad subject and for sure different profiles of alcoholics exist.
Jellinek has detailed different types of alcoholics and different stages of alcohol abusage / addiction, but I don't think this detailed enough to cover all types of alcoholics. It is very easy to google and it might help one to get a first self assessment.
@MI-recovery, maybe your father in law never needed to use alcohol as a buffer for handling life or his own emotions?