As a humble pax, I am amazed that they cancelled over 5 hours before flight was due, and with apparently no confirmation of their drunkenness. I presumes as the crew were told to remain at the hotel there was no opportunity for managers to check them. If the cabin crew were not available, surely it would have been preferable to get another crew in rather than move the passengers.
Pax were transferred onto a BA flight to LHR and onwards to JFK.