Ahh, thank you for the crit!! these are all definitely failings on my part. I'll explain what I can.
as for the alcoholism, he is still drinking - I try to at least show that he's boozing up at any party - I suppose I haven't felt any "good" event or opportunity to showcase that it's still a problem, but now that you mention it, I feel stupid for thinking that because it's not like addiction waits for a "good" opportunity to bring the addict to rock bottom. I admit that I'm also averse to being the spotlight about negative things like that (which, in a weird convoluted way, I would be by proxy) which is mostly for personal reasons, even though I logically know that no one here will judge me for being an attention seeker or anything. so...I will actively push myself on that part.
you're right about everything else. reflecting on it, I think maybe, without realizing, I was trying to make him more approachable? with a character who's so private and guarded and speaks so little, it's a real difficulty to keep threads going with him. so, I dunno. now that I've realized it, I can't even say that it's worked.
I have a lot to think about. thank you again for the crit!