Just to nit this / expand because I liked the "integral component" aspect and had not thought of it -- alcohol saved lives in our shared history due to it's use

Just to nit this / expand because I liked the "integral component" aspect and had not thought of it -- alcohol saved lives in our shared history due to it's use in disinfecting water. Smoking has been around across civilizations for some time, but alcohol/beer had a utility and was used everywhere.