Darse a la bebida

[ROBINDESBOIS]

When sb starts drinking and doesn´t quit. ENGLISH?

[Rusty]

to be given to drink
(to be addicted to alcohol)
to be a drinker

[CrOtALiTo]

Rusty beat me.
I don't arrive time.

Yes when a person start in the alcohol is named a drinker as Rusty said.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Quelle chance la tienne !

[xchic]

To be drunk - or to be a drunk

[hermit]

Drinker: Toper (denotes 'good old drinker'.), tippler (one who takes frequent sips.), "...a good judge of whiskey..." (infers seasoned palate;
wise in the ways of the world.)

Also, slang terms like: "He's really into the sauce.", "He's a total boozer."
(Booze = Liquor), "They've been known to hoist a few.", meaning raise
a few glasses..., "Wino", one given to drinking wine, "Alkie" = alcoholic,
but not necessarily a negative term - can be used jokingly, like "My rowdy
friends are all alkies.", the terms in English abound, as in any language...

[Ambarina]

he/she's taken to drinking
he/she's gone on the booze (colloquial)