What I got from reading Bryn Pugh's post was that you can be a drinking alcoholic and avoid being drunk during a paid gig. Making a professionally bad decision is a totally different thing than having an illness.

Of course, I'm not an alcoholic, so it seems like it should be easy for an alcoholic to refrain from drinking for the few hours they're on stage. I might be quite wrong. I expect the truth is that some can and some can't, and some can drink just enough to give in to the need and not be stupid-drunk.

For some, a performer being that drunk won't be a problem. For me, it probably would. I'd listen to recordings and respect the person for their musical knowledge and abilities, but I'd avoid their gigs.