#because clearly ive had enough wine XD

[first-and-last-neocount]

[omgellendean]

Sandor was also drunk in the serpentine scene, so badly that he swayed on his feet (holy shit, dude, you could’ve killed both of you):

“True knights,” he mocked. “And I’m no lord, no more than I’m a knight. Do I need to beat that into you?” Clegane reeled and almost fell. “Gods,” he swore, “too much wine. Do you like wine, little bird? True wine? A flagon of sour red, dark as blood, all a man needs. Or a woman.” He laughed, shook his head. “Drunk as a dog, damn me. You come now. Back to your cage, little bird. I’ll take you there. Keep you safe for the king.” (A Clash of Kings - Sansa II)

Sansa doesn’t mention the smell of wine in that scene, but just before that, she was talking to Dontos, who was also drunk, so maybe she got used to it, lol.

Sansa and Sandor had four big scenes one-to-one: Sansa II in AGoT and Sansa II, IV and VII in ACoK, — and only in their interaction before the battle, in Sansa IV, he isn’t said to be really drunk. That gives us a 3 to 1 ratio, which is not too great. I kind of side-eye the scene before the battle too, because Sandor talks A LOT and acts like an edgelord, going as far as to put his sword to Sansa’s neck. That behaviour for him is strongly connected with drinking, both in Sansa’s and Arya’s chapters. But wine is never mentioned in this chapter, so maybe he was just in a really bad mood because of all that fire.

Then there are also lines from both Varys and the Elder Brother, which too indicate guy as a drinker:

“The dog is never far from his master's heels," he'd observed to Varys, "but all men sleep. And some gamble and whore and visit winesinks as well." "The Hound does all these things, if that is your question." (A Clash of Kings - Tyrion VIII)

He was Prince Joffrey's sworn shield for many a year, and even here we would hear tell of his deeds, both good and ill. If even half of what we heard was true, this was a bitter, tormented soul, a sinner who mocked both gods and men. He served, but found no pride in service. He fought, but took no joy in victory. He drank, to drown his pain in a sea of wine. (A Feast for Crows - Brienne VI) 

Notice that the Elder Brother talks about Sandor’s life as Joffrey’s bodyguard, before shit hit the fan. However, before the Blackwater, Sandor clearly takes his job seriously enough, because he’s always sober and focused with Joffrey (well, who wouldn’t be). It seems, while in King’s Landing, he drinks only at feasts and/or during his nights off ("The king was looking for his dog earlier." — "The dog was drinking.") — which is also when Sansa runs into him alone. But when  he drinks, he drinks a lot.

Then again, I don’t think anyone out of Sandor’s surroundings or even he himself would see that as a problem — as long as he could still fulfil his duties, of course. Lannisters are all about treating people like functions; even their own family, not to mention the servants. And Sandor spent his formative years with them. But from the readers’ PoV? Yep, it doesn’t look great at all.

So in conclusion, while I think 80% hangover xD is a bit over the top, your impression about Sandor having a drinking problem didn’t come out of nowhere. This problem got way worse after the Blackwater, and before that, it wasn’t as bad as it’s sometimes shown in fanfiction. But I think it existed already in AGoT and was clearly portrayed in ACoK.

I don't understand how Sandor Clegane can be in the Kingsguard and assume his duties while being hungover 80% of the time.

I can't even get out of my bed, and I feel like I'm dying ! How is he handling a psycho AND finding energy to stalk a princess??? like????