Callmesam;

Congrats on the journey you are embarking upon. You are right to be reading and asking and trying to learn before you jump in. Also, you are right that alot will depend on her, and hopefully she will guide you too. About the whipping thing... what are you going to be using? Some whips (like a single-tail) take practice to even be able to use. You would need to have a few sessions with a pillow first (pillows don't scream or whimper so you won't get as much satisfaction, but they're good to practice on!) to get the hang of it.
Floggers are much easier, but again...depending on the size, you might want some practice on a non-human.
Make sure you start slow and gentle. I can only really say for myself, but I believe most subs like to ease into things. Get a rhythm going. 25 medium swats get an area warm and stinging more than one hard one... and the real hard ones have more of a chance of doing real damage. Speaking of damage, watch out for sensitive areas like the spine or kidneys too.
Also, don't just focus on the pain giving. The talk is important too. If someone grabs me by the hair and says: I'm going to whip you now, it is as much of a rush as the whipping itself. You don't have to get all into the role-playing (if you come off as too fake, it's not all that exciting) but a little dominance is always good.
About the alcohol, you are correct that most people on this site will jump down your throat for even mentioning it. To be honest, I don't think it's all that bad, as long as you DO NOT have enough to cloud your judgment. If you wouldn't drive, then don't whip. Especially as a newbie. A couple of drinks may be a relaxer and get the conversation flowing, but keep control.

Good luck, play safe...and above all, enjoy. This should be fun.