Rabbitoh, yes, alcohol definitely affected me negatively over the years. Used to get hayfever often ,bloody eyes and often eyeritis after a long night. Never had eyetitis since I stopped over 5 years back and cannot remember when I last had hayfever. Heard the other day that John Hewson had similar allegy and a teetotaler now.
As you said the affects of beer are probably severe than refined spirits. I was a scotch and vodka guy yet they got me.