I cannot speak for dane, but I can comment from my PoV.
As someone who had a massive battle with alcohol, it would not have been helpful to be told "just cut down and you will be able to afford whatever..."
Deep down, I knew that already, but I was fighting this addictive vicious circle of drinking to try and cope with things, only for it to make things massively worse. I felt like I was stuck in this never ending situation and couldn't break out of it.
As for "a beer to celebrate", that's not funny.
Give the guy a break.