Both fructose and ethanol are metabolized similarly (acetylaldehyde to acetic acic and acetyl co-a). That process is rate limited (particularly the second part) and acetylaldehyde is toxic - you don't want it building up in your liver.
My take on it is that the important thing is to reduce the rate of absorption. Eating fruit whole will do that (fiber and polyphenols) . Fruit juice will not.