I am not sure where this whole "Link is being horribly influenced by his friends" is coming from. Link is quite independent and makes plenty of his own decisions during his day to day life. He's been very critical of the situation between OoT Link and Maraich, taking sides and being upset by their behavior because he doesn't approve of how either of them have been handling it. He doesn't like the fact that any of them kill animals for their food, and doesn't partake in eating meat with them. How is any of this being heavily influenced by his friends? How is one negative behavior as a result of his friend's influence cause for this concern that he's "too" influenced by them? Is there something else he's doing that's making it seem like he is besides the drinking? Because if it's just the drinking, then I don't know what to tell you beyond what we've already discussed.