He's always had a problem/habit with the drink for as long as I've known him, but it seemed as though he had it under control and was just drinking on a weekend, or at least that was the impression that I got. Obviously it's impossible to know for sure.
Some of his multiple day benders were slightly worrisome at times, but up until his hiatus it appeared that he was just drinking on a weekend, but was frustrated due to timezone differences (fuck off
@Lily I do understand them!) resulting in him often being online when everyone else was either asleep or tired/sober and not on his buzzed level.
He'll likely turn up again at some stage, although it wouldn't be the first time that a longterm member inexplicably disappeared.