I’m Irish too - Proud conservative Wild Turkey drinker here. (One of many apparently). So why are you’re focusing on the wrong word? The key word was “asshole”. ;)
IMO both words are important.One can be drunk without being an a$$hole and one can be an a$$hole without being drunk.However,my 20+ years of experience working in a big city ER qualifies me to assure you that there's a very close,and very important,association between acts of violence and being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.