The author using the 90s as a reference point strikes me as odd, as though that was a normal period. The 90s was peak "binge", the West was on top of the world

The author using the 90s as a reference point strikes me as odd, as though that was a normal period. The 90s was peak "binge", the West was on top of the world with no challengers. People felt they could relax. Perhaps they relaxed a bit too much.