Alcoholics and other addicts rarely think they have a problem. And most that do recognize a problem think that they can manage it. That's part of the disease. You can still encourage him to go to AA, keep an attendance record and get a sponsor, because it may help him in court. Getting his foot through the door is a start.
Eligibility to get a license back is not the same thing as having it back. If he hadn't reinstated his license, it was still suspended. Given that he fled the scene, he can try to argue that he got drunk after the accident, but judges and juries don't typically believe that type of claim.

