Actually, that blanket is not quite true. For third class, after two years down, no repeat infractions (after only ONE infraction in which toleranace was "Probable"), you can go back to 3rd class and keep drinkin', so long as you are smart enough to never get another DUI.
The comment was not random. Congress mandated in 2009, the current effort by FAA to curb alcohol related operational mishaps. The Hon. James Oberstar, presiding. The comment about "tip" o'Neal was pointed at the hypocracy of Congress. The "Tipster" had a teeny leetle shrunken cirrhotic liver....