One of the sayings in Al-anon and applies to this advice, "Take what you need and leave the rest".
Fortunately, my kids principal who is also one of our pastors, had a father who was an alcoholic and is very familiar with it all. He has been a big help.
IN the beginnning, it was very odd because one time he was so drunk in the middle of the morning and demanded that I go out and buy him more. I said no, and he became quite demanding. The kids were there as well. Because I did not know how to deal with it, I went out and bought the stuff.
Awhile later, he would talk poorly about his father and then he broke down and sobbed for a good 15 minutes and admitted what a horrible person he (meaning my husband) was.
A few other times when he was drunk, he would break down to my son and I and told us he made a mess of things, did not know how to end it with other woman because he did not want to hurt her. When we told him of this he totally denied it.
I read not too long ago that alcohol can act as a sort of truth serum. Interesting, if even a little true.