was king james really a drunk?

Yes, and a notorious homosexual.

ETA:

A physical weakling, as an adolescent James had shown himself to be a coward, who liked only to hunt, to read (which he did, prodigiously) and to talk. To protect himself he wore thick quilted doublets, so padded that they provided a kind of armor against any assassin who might attack him with a knife. When he revealed a sexual preference for men, falling in love with his cousin Esmé Stewart and elevating him to a position of authority on the royal council, some of his nobles kidnapped James and held him captive, banishing Stewart and controlling James's every move. After nearly a year James escaped, but continued to resent his jailers; after he began to rule on his own behalf, at seventeen, he made it a priority to bring the turbulent Scots nobles under control.

As he aged James indulged his preference for handsome men, living apart from his wife. His doting fondness was part paternal, part erotic; he called his favorite George Villiers "sweet child and wife" and referred to himself as "your dear dad and husband." But to his courtiers, the sight of the aging, paunchy, balding monarch, who according to one court observer had a tendency to drool, leaning on his paramours was utterly repellant.

The first of the king's minions was Robert Carr, Groom of the Bedchamber, who the king elevated to earl of Somerset and appointed Lord Chamberlain. After six years of favors and royal gifts Carr was brought low, accused of murder and sent away from court. The second and greatest royal favorite, the extraordinarily handsome George Villiers, rose from cupbearer to Gentleman of the Bedchamber and ultimately to Earl of Buckingham.

"I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else," James announced to his councilors, "and more than you who are here assembled." He compared his love for the earl to Jesus's affection for the "beloved disciple" John. "Jesus Christ did the same," the king said, "and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had his John, and I have my George."

With such pronouncements King James seemed to reach a new level of outrage, especially when he compounded his offense, in the view of many, by heaping Buckingham with costly jewels, lands, and lucrative offices.

-Royal Panoply, Brief Lives Of The English Monarchs
Carrolly Erickson, History Book Club"

No, but he was a party-er extrordinaire, and no doubt did wake up with a hangover more than once. He was also a political operator who Machiavelli would have been proud of: Stealing the English throne was no small feat. Heck, in that crowd, keeping his head attached to his neck was no small feat.

LOL, yes totally sh*t faced

...if you were surrounded by 16th Century idiots, you'd be a drunk too.

There was one who was.

I don't think we have any way of knowing for sure. When you read the historical accounts you are left with the choice to believe them or not.

Not all the time.

Which one?

" King James was sickly having crippling arthritis, weak limbs, abdominal colic, gout, and a number of other chronic illnesses. He also had physical handicaps which affected his legs and tongue. Coupled with numerous attempts on his life, he required constant attention and watch-care. " Nope, nothing about a drunk anywhere. Good reading though, some facts at this site:

http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/kingjame.htm

He could have been, but the King James Bible is a good version.