speaking as a beer drinker, it's not that I won't drink coolers, I've had some, but generally I don't like them as much.
I think beer is better than Smirnoff Ice. I had them at a friends wedding a few years back (I went on the logic they cost the same, and Smirnoff has more alcohol) but my teeth hurt for 2 weeks because of the sugar.
I once had Mike Hard Lemonade. I was like "I like Lemonade, and I like alcohol" however having it with Crown Royal (mixed with Blue), 8 pack of Blue (one used to mix with CR), and the case of Mike's (all in about 1.5-2 horus... how I'm still alive is BEYOND me) makes you not like Mike's anymore.
So I'll drink a cooler if I find one better than beer. I have no problem with mixed drinks like Screwdriver, Singapore Sling, etc. I get them from time to time depending on if I was an change from beer, beer, beer, rum, beer, rum, beer, rum, rum, rum, beer, beer.
However, as I previously stated, the chicks wanted the coolers, so we nice guys let them have coolers as their drink. REALLY, any guy that drinks a cooler on a regular basis is just taking away from a woman's supply, and that's a really mean thing to do, don't you think?