His solicitor made the argument that he wouldn't have taken control of the aircraft until three and a half hours into the flight, which was rejected. He could have had to take control earlier in the event of crew incapacitation and duties such a flight planning and carrying out a preflight check on the aircraft require a pilot to be sober.
Career down the drain at 50 and passengers will be looking at the rest of us, wondering if we've been drinking as well. Nice one.