I think we're transitioning from one life-style to another.
For a long time, overdrinking - regardless of consequences - was considered a "fun loving" norm. Offenders were considered colorful wild-things" that added fun and merriment to any family's book of legends.
Times change. T-boning an SUV and wiping out an entire family is no longer considered "cute."
But when dealing with DUI, substance-abuse etc, there still is the tendency to treat fun-loving Uncle Charley (who took out a light-pole near the Interstate) as "colorful" instead of dangerous.
It's not easy bucking ingrained traditions. Think of it as "we know more now - time to change the way we roll."