I would have thought rather than destroy all his work, becoming teetotal for say, two years, and then reapplying might be sufficient. But this is with the condition the zero alcohol lifestyle is forever.
It's got a lot to do with what his blood shows in the longer term analysis. If it was a one-off lapse, that's very different from hiding an even moderate problem.
Believe me, this is a subject close to my heart. When I could stand it no more I stormed out of a very good job because of being forced to fly with an alcoholic . . . or two. And I mean shouted at to get back on the job.
It would have been hard not to have a drink or two after a long day back then, but so many were long term heavy drinkers.
"I wanted to think, so I gave up alcohol." Richard Feynman.