'alcohol-friendly' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of the words 'alcohol' and 'friendly'. 'alcohol' ultimately comes from Arabic 'al-kuḥl', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'kuḥl' referred to a powdered cosmetic (kohl) and later a distilled substance. 'friendly' comes from Old English 'freondlic', from 'freond' meaning 'friend'.

'alcohol' changed from Arabic 'al-kuḥl' into Medieval Latin/Old French forms (e.g. 'alcohol') and eventually became the modern English word 'alcohol'. 'friendly' changed from Old English 'freondlic' to Middle English 'friendlich'/'frendlich' and then to modern 'friendly'. The compound 'alcohol-friendly' is a modern English formation using the adjective 'friendly' (and the productive suffix '-friendly').

Initially, 'alcohol' referred to a fine cosmetic powder ('kohl') and then more generally to distilled substances; over time it came to mean specifically ethanol-containing substances (drinks). 'friendly' originally meant 'like a friend' and later developed an extended use as a combining element (e.g. 'user-friendly') meaning 'suitable for' or 'tolerant of', which is how it is used in 'alcohol-friendly'.