Scientists seem to need a target, I suppose to attract funding, in the past it's been salt, cholesterol in eggs, fats, trans fats, smoking, sugar, beef, etc etc etc. The media pick up on this, then the politicians, especially the ones who believe in a nanny state/need to be seen doing "stuff" for votes. Hence why the eu has made it law that drinks bottles should have attached lids....we have it because manufacturing isn't going to have two set ups.
So drink in all its guises is once again evil....remember the usa banned alcohol in 1920, which went so well that drink consumption actually increased as did crime, the mafia especially thrived.
People like me who enjoy a social drink, occasionally get drunk, don't drink and drive, dont commit crime, don't start fights are penalised for the actions of others...but given that apart from violent crime,most crime is either drug related or fraud related to organised crime, drink isn't a huge problem.
Yes parts of the nhs are effected by drink related health issues, especially in Scotland (it seems) but obesity is a much bigger issue and there doesn't seen to be the concentrated campaign against chips like there is drink.
Stigma against people who drink is growing, especially in the younger generation, but they are the generation who seem to me much more likely to die of a pizza and burger induced heart attack at 40 than any of the drinkers I know (all of whom are well over 40 and have been pissing it up for years)