I have reduced my alcohol consumption considerably as part of a weight loss campaign. Having said that, I have had two days where I know I had too much. Neither left me with a hangover, but that's bye the bye.
Regarding comparing smoking with drinking, when my daughter worked for CRUK, she told me that they regarded alcohol as being pretty much as bad as tobacco for its links with cancer, but they simply didn't have the resources to take on another massive multi-billion global industry with very strong links with the world's top politicians.
As with all poisons, the best policy is not to have them at all. Cutting consumption is better than full-on binge drinking. Having been all holier-than-thou in the above statements, I do enjoy beer, wine and whisky and I find it very hard to envisage a situation in which I will never have them again. I gave up smoking completely in 1987, shortly after giving up teaching. I have no desire whatever for a cigarette now.