The cheekbones thing sounds suspiciously close to a latent sinus infection that flares when you're tired. I have chronic pan sinusitis and often get that sensation when I'm not doing well.

The alcohol problem might be a cranial/facial nerve reaction (like chewing foil), since the pain occurs as soon as you drink. I don't think it would be metabolic in origin, since your body can't get to work on processing the poison until after it hits your stomach and bloodstream. But, I could be wrong.