If you can't fall asleep without a drink, xanax would be a good choice. If you need a drink in your hand all day, I'd guess librium. If you're drinking from shift end until you pass out, probably ativan.

Alcoholism takes a lot of different forms, and obviously a doctor should come up with a taper plan.

But I think the reason these drugs (which actually work) aren't first line treatments is puritanical. They feel good, so giving them to alcoholics to feel just as good (or better) than they did with their drinks feels uneasy. But it really works, and it can be much more easily tapered and controlled.

It's frustrating to watch after having seen multiple people successfully taper themselves off booze with other drugs (without doctor's supervision, sadly).