Where are you from and where do you live?

My impression is the USA has the worst drinking culture. Many other places in the world have much better ones. UK pubs, Japanese izakayas.

I had a pretty negative view of drinking growing up in the USA with MADD's messaging etc. Even though my parents drank socially it just seemed not worth.

Then I moved abroad and my outlook changed

Here's an interesting talk on some of the possible benefits to society of drinking

https://longnow.org/ideas/drinking-10000-years-intoxication-...

note: I am not suggesting you should go drink. Rather, I'm only passing on my experience. I didn't drink until I moved abroad in my mid 30s. I still generally don't drink in the USA but I've had some great times drinking abroad.

I experienced those "benefits" outside the USA but rarely inside.