I mean, i don't drink anymore, and i avoid having sex with people i work with at all cost nowadays. Why is the alcohol more part of the team culture than promiscuity?
To be completely honest, i think promiscuity (even when not helped by alcohol) is a better team-builder than alcohol. I mean, most of us have been students, i expect the US to have a more involved punk and hippie culture than my country (and in my country, sex was pretty much expected in these circle when i was a student) and if i read the "frat" stories right, you don't even have to be a fringe leftist to use sex as a team-building tool, it seems to be more mainstream.
I also have been a youth camp counselor, and been with coastguards during summertime, those are at least two job where promiscuity is expected (you don't HAVE to partake, and you won't be fired if you don't), and i built stronger friendships there than at my first CS internship where the only teambuilding tool was alcohol (and food).