I think your view is very rational and compassionate. And I work in addiction recovery, so I'm actually proud of you for being informed enough to hold those opinions, especially as you haven't suffered through an addiction. I would love it if more people took a more sober (heh) and humane view such as yourself.

To touch on what I'm thinking about your 2nd paragraph, I view alcohol as humanity's oldest anti-anxiety medication. Perhaps its a one-dimensional view but I feel it explains it's grip on people well into this "modern" age. (Well, modern enough to know better, right?) And not to get into a whole political foofaraw, I do think that capitalism has propped up huge industries that preyed on human frailty and vice, and governments got "addicted" to vice tax as well. Government has always been heavily embroiled, and those mammoth brewing corporations have insane political clout.

I've always had a strange interest in the undercurrents of liquor/social policy in my home Province of Manitoba. I've followed the evolution of our laws and policy far more than any normal person would. I could give an extemporaneous 2 hour presentation, with hot questions no effort lol

Our story starts in the late 70's where liquor stores were open 10am-3pm M-F and any establishment which sold beer must have an attached hotel (under the justification that should a person find themselves intoxicated, they would have safe haven). Beer stores were open from 9am-6pm for the working man, as nobody got drunk on beer, only ever on spirits... or so it was said...