heavy drinker; toper
Refers to a person who habitually drinks a large amount of alcohol. Somewhat formal or literary compared to 大酒飲み.
See also: 大酒飲み
He has been a heavy drinker since his youth, drinking almost every night.
My grandfather was a heavy drinker, but he lived a long life.
Compound of 大 (large, great) + 酒 (alcohol, sake) + 家 (person, specialist). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji straightforwardly indicate 'person of great alcohol consumption'.