I also think that the dehydration on drinks like beer and nuka-cola are so it won't be OP... after all beer and other alcoholic drinks boost STR and CHA reduces INT and dehydrates, if it hydrated it would be three bonus against one penalty. In the case of Nuka-Cola it would be even worst, because one could heal, remove tiredness, hydrate and even get a bottle cap, only penalty three radiation...
Not much of a hardcore play if drinking beer non-stop could keep you alive and make you stronger in a desert and even worst if drinking Nuka-Cola would be enough to offset most hardcore penalties except hunger. 
