It is well known that bipolar patients very often have co-occurring substance use disorder (drug and alcohol abuse).
Acctually, bipolar disorder is a risk factor for substance use.
Also, symptoms of bipolar disorder may emerge during the course of chronic alcohol intoxication or withdrawal.
Bipolar patients, usually, use alcohol as a self medication, in an attempt to prolong their pleasurable state or to sedate the agitation of mania, or to kill the unhappiness due to bipolar depression.
The link between bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse is complex one.
It is important to know that alcohol use may worsen the clinical course of bipolar disorder, making it harder to treat.

Help your wife with the alcohol dependency.
Well treated bipolar patients lead normal life (it takes time to find the right combination and the right doses of drugs that are helpful for controlling mood swings).

Best wishes!
Marija

Is your wife seeing a psychologist as well as a psychiatrist? It sounds like she should be seeing someone weekly and stick to her meds. It will take lots of understanding when it comes to dealing with mania. If she was self medicating with alcohol before she was diagnosed that can be a problem. I do suggest that she see someone weekly to get her through this. She may need time in the hospital. There is nothing wrong with a stay in the hospital to get your life turned around. To learn healthy coping skills. I have been in the hospital four times in the past 4 years. I used to be ashamed of it, but now I realize it has made my home life more stable and keeps me from hurting myself before something drastic happens. If you have good insurance I would suggest a hospital stay.

Just to warn you, she will probably be going through changes in meds for months, possibly years. I have been diagnosed for 10 years and I am now just on the right meds. It takes pacient for deal with all of it. Be supportive, but do not put up with violence if it gets that bad. Get her some help before it gets out of hand and ruins your relationship.