It can produce hilarious comedy and intense melancholia, creating scenarios ranging from the absurdist to the intimately introspective.

While once a minor stock character falling off his bar stool, the loveable drunks on our screens have become increasingly more diverse of late, exploring their battle with the bottle in ways that are less likely to involve slapstick and more likely to involve lying on a leather couch, talking about their marriage breakdown.

Television's drunks can take the lead role in a show or (gasp) be played by a woman. Here are 10 of the most memorable:

#1 Hank Moody, Californication (2007-2014): A self-described "big fan of the bye-bye pain juice", womanising novelist Hank Moody's soft spot for hard liquor often gets him into trouble. But when Hank was trying to be a good father to his daughter, David Duchovny​ somehow manages to find an element of humanity in a character who was otherwise a forever-pissed arsehole.

#2 Don Draper, Mad Men (2007-2015): Over the show's seven seasons, Mad Men's Don Draper (Jon Hamm​) has made the uncomfortable transition from irresponsible drunk to clear alcoholic; a shift from a character who had the occasional vomit after a boozy lunch to one who was unable function at work or home. As the series documents the disintegration of Don's marriage and career, it becomes apparent that the (m)ad man lifestyle has its consequences.

#3 Karen Walker, Will & Grace (1998-2006): Finally, a character on this list whose love of grog doesn't make you feel sad. Millionaire housewife-cumincompetent-personal-assistant Karen Walker (Megan Mullally​) once proudly proclaimed she would "suck the alcohol out of a deodorant stick" if given the chance. And, considering how easily she manages to skol a bottle of vodka in polite company, that seems like a highly probable scenario.

#4 Norm Peterson, Cheers (1982-1993): It's the bar where everyone knows your name, and Norm Peterson (George Wendt​) can count on a hearty, "Norm!" every time he walks through the door at Cheers. Unfortunately, such is his love of the drink he can also count on a hearty "Norm!" every time he walks through the door at Gary's, the bar he goes to when Cheers closes each Christmas.

#5 Meredith Palmer, The Office (2005-2013): Meredith Palmer (Kate Flannery) works in supplier relations at Dunder Mifflin​, where – in early morning hangover hell – she often finds the office fluorescent lighting too bright and her co-workers too loud. A mother of two, Meredith keeps a flash under the seat of her mini van.

#6 Barney Gumble​, The Simpsons (1989-): Since Homer introduced him to beer the day before their final school exams, Barney Gumble (voiced by Dan Castellaneta​) and his characteristic burp have become a permanent fixture at Moe's Bar. Despite originally appearing as Springfield's town drunk, Gumble has actually been sober since midway through The Simpsons' 11th season (which aired in 2000). He still spends his days at Moe's, although keen-eyed viewers will note he is now drinking a takeaway latte.

#7 Cleaver Greene, Rake (2010-): Loosely based on real-life Sydney barrister Charles Waterstreet, Richard Roxburgh's Cleaver Greene does "liquor-fuelled legal genius" incredibly well. Even if he has beaten up one too many children's birthday party clowns.

#8 Patsy Stone, Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012): When Patsy gave up alcohol it was "the worst eight hours of [her] life". If the glamorous magazine editor from West London (played by Joanna Lumley) isn't drinking wine she's snorting coke, and if she isn't snorting coke she's probably trying to snort her wine.

#9 Tyrion Lannister​, Game of Thrones (2011-): Drunk ensemble characters are often just as easily described as stupid ensemble characters, but this isn't the case for Game of Thrones' Tyrion Lannister. Peter Dinklage​'s portrayal of the most likeable Lannister is wickedly sharp, even if often inebriated. As the man himself says, "It's not easy being drunk all the time. If it were easy, everyone would do it."

#10 Bernard Black, Black Books (2000-2004): Bernard Black is the bookstore owner who has drunk both a bottle of bleach and a bottle of wine about to be presented to the Pope and, thanks to his smoking habit, is unable to tell the difference. Dylan Moran's misanthropic Bernard's love of the drink once saw him co-author a publishable children's book with store clerk Manny (Bill Bailey). Unfortunately, when they woke up the next morning they had forgotten the entire thing …