Basically, because alcohol is no joke. The amount of personal tragedy it produces year by year is staggering [1]. Yet as a society we currently decide it to be

Basically, because alcohol is no joke. The amount of personal tragedy it produces year by year is staggering [1]. Yet as a society we currently decide it to be worth the costs and shift the responsibility to the individual: "drink responsibly". So when someone tells you "my responsible behavior is to not drink", I find it quite reprehensible for you to answer "I know better, you should drink anyway". [1] Also speaking from personal experience, unfortunately. Yet it is hard to get a good feeling for how may lives it impacts, because cold statistics [2] don't resonate properly, and many stories occurring in you personal circle are deemed family matters or similar. It's only when you open up with your own problems / problems of people close you, that others open up as well. [2] Edit to add: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/482349 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/... - "Prevalence of lifetime and 12-month alcohol abuse was 17.8% and 4.7%; prevalence of lifetime and 12-month alcohol dependence was 12.5% and 3.8%."