Why was alcohol use so widespread in the 19th century? Does it mirror modern drug use?

Why did alcohol become such a major social evil in the 19th century despite being consumed more widely today with seemingly fewer societal consequences? Was the world harsher back then, leading to widespread alcohol dependence, particularly among men? Why were men disproportionately affected by alcohol?

In Russia, during economic downturns and periods of unrest, rulers actively promoted heavy drinking to pacify the population. Vodka was not just a drink but a tool of state control, keeping the lower classes compliant and discouraging rebellion. The resulting alcoholism crisis was not merely an individual issue but a structural one, deliberately engineered for political stability. Did other countries also use alcohol as a means of state control?

Does alcohol’s trajectory—unregulated use, moral panic, prohibition, and eventual regulation—mirror the historical cycle of drug policies? Modern drugs have followed a similar path: once demonized, leading to a costly war on drugs, but now increasingly accepted and regulated. Are we witnessing the same shift toward controlled legalization?

If the core issue with alcohol and drugs lies in social conditions rather than the substances themselves, why have policymakers historically prioritized prohibition? Is this an extension of conservative and religious influence, as seen with the 18th Amendment, which was heavily lobbied for by Christian women’s groups?

As these substances remain in public discourse, the general public becomes more informed, diminishing the effectiveness of fear-based narratives. Is the cycle of moral panic and regulation simply a function of shifting societal awareness?