This is not unexpected.

I'd be interested in the biomechanics involved in alcohol related arterial stiffening - but not quite enough to dive down that rabbit hole, being a semi-non drinker.

At a guess, it's related to capillary damage (arteries have capillaries, just like ay other structure; these are on the side away from the major blood flow). And if you've seen the bloodshot eyes of someone who's been drinking, you've seen capillary damage. Anybody got a pointer to something on PubMed?