In my experience they are completely different people.
I've seen it with my grandmother, i've seen it with my mother, and i'm seeing it with me.

My grandmother was there hell of a lot for me as a child, we were always at my grandparents house and i was her favourite. After my mothers problems my grandmother offered to have me at her house. They decorated my new room, put me in a school, supported me in everything, and even gave me money to go out at the weekends (drinking ironically!)

After my grandad died, and she became an alcoholic, although she'll never admit it to you, she kicked me out- just like that. Told me to leave, and we've never had a decent conversation since. She doesn't send birthday cards, or christmas cards and refuses to see us.

With my mother, i was too young to realise, but she didn't pay much attention to any of us as children, but of course we had no idea it was down to alcohol at the time.

With me, i'm an emotional drunk. I'm emotional all the time, but with a couple glasses of wine, i can't control the tears, and if i'm pushed i lash out and hit people, stamp my feet and make a mess of everything.

I'm being treated for substance abuse, and i hope to come out of it like my mother did. She's a lovely caring person now, and often says to me, 'if i didn't meet your step dad i'd not be alive today.' Sure enough i believe her...