Hi Maria,
Thank you for your piece. I agree with everything you say.
I used to work in a drug and alcohol counselling service in the UK and all of the same issues are true here. (Except for our wine manufacturing, which we are not knowing known for!)
It's hard to imagine culture here without alcohol, it is then lubricant that society runs on. I drink, though not excessively but like you, I think it's unhealthy to deny the harmful effect it has physically and mentally. Despite this, I know we all need a variety of ways to cope and in combination with other healthy coping mechanisms alcohol has it's place.