Miami Ink is a pretty good show...Inked, the one on A&E is crap. It's run by Corey Hart, some motorcross lamer that's married to Pink (the singer) inside the Palms Casino in LV. Miami Ink's artists seem like some cool, down-to-earth guys that you could go in and just bullshit with all day long. The Inked guys are clearly all about the fame and fortune. I'm sorry, but when I get work done on me, I want someone who actually gives a shit about what he's doing.
as far as drunks getting tattoos...I don't know how Miami Ink runs it, but most shops around here will NOT tattoo you if you're visibly high or drunk...and I'm pretty sure most tattoo artists would be able to tell right away. Also, they make you practically sign your life away on some legal document before they work on you: are you 18? have you taken any drugs? have you taken any prescribed drugs? have you consumed alcohol? do you have HIV, AIDS or Hepatitis? etc. etc. The documents basically say that you can be sued and imprisoned should something come up that you lied about.