'pro-alcoholism' is formed from the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro' meaning 'for' or 'in favor of') combined with 'alcoholism' (from 'alcohol' + the suffix '-ism').

'alcoholism' ultimately derives from Arabic 'al-kuḥl' (al- 'the' + kuḥl, a powdered antimony used as kohl), passed into Medieval Latin and then into English; the prefix 'pro-' comes from Latin 'pro' and was attached in modern English compounds to indicate support for or advocacy of the following concept, producing 'pro-alcoholism' as a modern compound.

Initially, 'pro-' simply meant 'for' or 'in support of' and 'alcoholism' referred to the condition of excessive alcohol dependence; combined, the modern compound specifically denotes support or advocacy of alcohol consumption to the point of endorsing the condition of alcoholism.