Did Sai Baba help people who were struggling with bad habits like alcoholism?

Yes, Sai Baba actively intervened to help devotees overcome addictions. Chapter 19 provides a vivid example of his methods for dealing with alcoholism. It states that for devotees who had "a great love for alcohol," Baba would go to them even in their dreams. In these dream visions, he would physically restrain them by sitting on their chest and pressing their hands and feet, making them promise to never touch liquor again before he would leave. This powerful, direct intervention demonstrates his deep compassion and his willingness to use even forceful means to guide his followers onto a better path.