No, don't be put off. It's not as big a step as you think.
Using the example you've given, 'Tycoon' is the definition part of the left-hand solution. There's no wordplay as such - just the consecutive jumble of letters which in this case occurs in 'too much drink' (you're looking for a proper name).
Alternatively, try the anagrams in 'food and drink' as a way in. They're quite easy to solve, though you do have to determine which belongs to the left and which to the right hand grid.
This site may help in unscrambling some of them at least - enter the phrase without spaces between the words:
wordsmith.org/anagram/
I've only just started this one, and it's more complex than most regular Spectator puzzles, but so far not that difficult. It just takes patience.
If you can cope with Araucaria's more testing puzzles in the Guardian, you can cope with this. And don't forget you have virtually three weeks to do it in!