Certainly if you apply some social and medical metrics there's no doubt that alcohol comes out as a detrimental health issue. Smoking is similar with the respect to it being a legal product.
I think much of the acceptance has to do with the product maturity (and hence acceptance) and government attitudes and legislation; the taxation and how much money they are getting from these products has affected how it is handled. The government in the UK (and USA for me) certainly has no intention of turning down this revenue source. That's the fiscal elephant in the room.
I have at times thought that if you were to market a completely new product that does what alcohol or cigarettes do with their subsequent health ramifications, there would be no way it would find its way to be a legal product. It's also ironic that some medications that have been found to have been efficacious but have (in relative terms) small dangerous side effects are banned -all while you can drop into a off licence and get a bottle of vodka and 20 Benny Hedgehogs.
But as to why the UK is worse than other countries... I'm not sure. Is it because of the sometimes depressing weather? (I mean that quite seriously -I think I read somewhere there is a high rate of alcoholism in countries that have long winters or bad weather). Or a lack of hope that entices people into drunken escapism? Or just a cultural norm that's evolved and will take some time to reduce? I'm not sure.
I'm not as naive to think this problem can be eradicated, but I'd think higher alcohol prices (at least on the face of it might help, but I'm keenly aware sometimes measures like this have unintended consequences* and merit further research than a gut reflex kick), better education to push a changed attitude and looking at why certain areas are more susceptible may be a first step.
*black market, avoidance of tax, resorting to more dangerous drugs, etc
