[watwut]

I think it is taboo because of rather catastrophic impact of an alcoholism on your and your close ones lives. And having to use alcohol to function is getting there.

That being said, people DO talk about therapeutic effects of alcohol. Just recently I have heard an recovering alcoholic talk about that - that it was helping her emotionally. Until it wasn't, until full on addiction kicked in, obviously.

Plus, marihuana is still illegal in many places. That is despite the addiction being less dangerous. If anything alcohol is waaay more tolerated.