Most here drink, but they drink wine and the kids are allowed in the bars so alcohol becomes more of a social thing and in general treated in a responsible manner.
Around here it's beer and hard alcohol and a lot of it. At the golf course where DH & I work, it's nothing to see people spend $50-$100 during an afternoon just on booze. Then they get in their cars and trucks to drive on the highway to go home in the neighboring town.
Crazy. And unsafe for everyone.
I'm not a tea-totaler but people should know their limits.