From the sound of it, you already have your answer, he doesn't want to stop drinking and he's already defending it saying it makes him feel good. And he's also getting annoyed with your constant focus on it.
You seem to be caught in "control" mode right now. And I think the more you research and discover more knowledge about alcoholism you will come to understand that you are powerless over his drinking. There are no words, loving gestures, ultimatums, threats etc. that will make an alcoholic stop drinking if they don't want to stop.
Al-anon, posting here, maybe some counseling for yourself will help you accept that you cannot control another human being no matter who they are, spouse, grown child, sibling, parent, best friend. All we can really do is either accept them for exactly who they are, alcoholic/addict and all the behaviors that come with that or make the choice not to and move ourselves away from it.