I think too that it is not only a matter of alcohol being so important to gay people, but a matter of moderation.
You take a group of people who have been, or spend a lot of their time isolated, comming together to be theirselves, they want to celebrate, but sometimes take it too far. I see nothing wrong is a drink or two or three, as the case may be. Sometimes it is the social lubricant needed to open up. Look at Jack and Ennis and the pint they consumed, that left him with a top grade head ache the next morning.
Alcohol has a place in the scheme of things, but when it exceeds that place it destroys. SO replace it,no. Replace our attitudes, that is the way to go.