I have not read anywhere that someone had several cups of coffee and went out and killed someone in a car wreck because they were impaired. Alcohol abuse is a scurge on this society as are drugs. In fact, when I was in school alcohol was listed as a drug. I don't know if that is still true. The problem is that most people think they can handle it, yet stats show a different story. Look at Josh Hamilton, a Christian, yet he still struggles with alcohol abuse.
Why do you care if someone calls for a ban on all alcohol usage? It will never happen and if you are sure that you are not violating your convictions nor responsible to a weaker brother, then why the consternation? Are you sure scripture doesn't call for a ban in some cases? Better read again what Paul said the mature attitude would be if a weaker brother was involved.
The problem being against all intoxicants is people do not think that position through. They fail to see their own hypocrisy as they feed their own pet addictions...which is really idolotry.
Now, your question about why this issue matters to me personally? The problem is biblical authority and the sovereignty of God. When we demand that it is godly and biblical to do something we need to be sure that it is, in fact, godly and biblical to do it. The blanket abstinence policy does not do this. It fails to deal with Scripture fairly, rightly, or responsibly. Alcohol is mentioned numerous times in Scripture and not once does God command us all to abstain from it. In fact, in the OT Law God gives a detailed list of what the Jews were allowed to consume....and no blanket call to avoid all alcohol. In the NT God frees His followers from the dietary laws.
Rom 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
Rom 14:2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
Rom 14:3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
Rom 14:4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
Rom 14:7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
Rom 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Rom 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
Rom 14:12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
Rom 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (NASB)
Col 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Col 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--
Col 2:17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
Col 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
Col 2:21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"
Col 2:22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
Col 2:23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. (NASB)
Legalism and an abuse of Scripture dishonors God and is a huge stumbling block. I would assert it is a bigger issue than me having a good microbrew with my steak.