I'd try to help him if I could but he lives in a distant state and is the son of a woman whom I used to know years ago. I have only met him once. I am unsure that a liver transplant would be justified merely because a person has not "continued to drink" (i.e. is not currently drinking). If a person does not have a plan or would not consider AA (a real option although not necessarily a "must"- I doubt it proper to rule it out) then to me at least this casts doubt on the propriety of using public funds to medicate or otherwise treat a patient. Without a plan or a firm commitment, there is a high probability of relapse and the future is uncertain. The ethical issue is to me at least a real one.
W.