I've tried to help some homeless people get into a place where they are provided with housing, jobs, etc. to try to get them back on their feet. They often didn't last very long because they knew that on the street, people would give them money that they could spend on drugs and alcohol. So the difficulty with giving them money for alcohol is that it might make it harder for them to stick with a place that is actually able to help them in the long run.
(And I don't mean to be critical of your position, just pointing out that it might not be neutral in the long term.)
(And I don't mean to be critical of your position, just pointing out that it might not be neutral in the long term.)