Many, many drops to drink...

I honestly saw a couple as I was walking to catch the train to work this morning (around 11:30 am) WINDOW SHOPPING for ALCOHOL!!! I don't know if that says something about the neighbourhood, the people, the country or what but I think that that's not a good sign. Now I'm not a drinker. But, to put it in abortion-sides lingo, I'm pro-choice rather than pro-sobriety. But I still ask : What is it with alcohol? What is it that draws people so (almost) universally? Is it the taste? I personally don't like the taste, but many people say they've always liked it. Is it that people like to get drunk? I don't think this applies to you after high school and college. Is it that it takes away a little bit of consciousness, a little bit of responsibility? Makes it a little easier to deal with or at least forget your problems? Maybe, although sometimes this backfires, of course. I think that it's more along the lines of it being so socially expected. To drink is to belong. It's almost mandatory when participating in any activity related to entertainment that alcohol be involved somehow. There's the standard, "Want to go out for a drink?" that's synonymous with 'taking it easy' or having a good time. People like to drink because other people expect them to like to drink. What do you think? Do you drink? (Man, that started to sound really Dr. Seussy at the end there.)