I believe the law of offer and demand apply here, as if you ban alcohol there still be demand what will happen it's illegal fabrication and distribution of it will lead to the surge of alcohol mobs and smuggling, which at the same time will lead to absence of regulation ergo alcohol will be worst for public health. So according to my logic making alcohol illegal will be worst at the middle and long term, maybe if you end with the demand you can end offer too but I believe it's hard to do because usually humans are complicated and always there will be someone who would want to slowly kill themself at exchange of evading a shitty reality.
So maybe if we collectively end with the shitty reality then eventually we will end with substance(included alcohol) abuse WO having to ban anything at all.