Like I bet if alcohol was something you had to snort, or just like a pill you take, I think a lot of people might not dig it as much.
When people say, “I don’t use drugs”, almost never do they include alcohol in that. Alcohol, which is a drug, is always referred to separately, in large part because it’s a beverage. Most people, if asked, will agree that alcohol is a drug, but it’s not really categorized as one in their mind on a day-to-day basis. No one has a glass of wine at lunch and thinks, “I’m doing drugs now.” But, if alcohol as a liquid simply didn’t exist, but exactly the same effect could be had in pill form, I don’t think people would be taking a pill with their dinner, and washing it down with water.
For many people, “drugs,” with no other qualifier, is just short-hand for “illegal drugs.” Plenty of people who say they don’t use drugs also take prescriptions or OTC medications.
It will be interesting in the next few years to see where marijuana ends up on that spectrum. Still largely illegal (federally), but if that changes, will people still consider it a “drug” in the same way they do now, or will it fall into a separate category like drugs that are mostly legal?
There’s people already, which smoke recreationally and/or advocate for legalization, that already don’t see it in the same category as other ‘harder’ drugs. And, it hasn’t always been illegal federally.
All this to say, it’ll probably end up near alcohol on the spectrum you describe
Also coffee, which is a stimulant.
Caffeine (including Tea and Coffee sources) is by far the most widely abused drug.
Snorting tea, coffee and broccoli would be less popular too.
Alcohol: now in XXL suppository
To flip your question, I’m a massive fan of craft beer/real ales/etc …if it wasn’t for the alcohol ingredient, would I walk in to ten different pubs and try all the IPAs/stouts/pilsners I do cause “I haven’t had this one before”? Probably not…
How would the average German man socialize if alcohol did not exist? I’m not even kidding, I’ve never seen it be absent at any Western table. We should be able to slowly but surely become capable of being normal human beings without needing to be at least tipsy, but at this point in Western civilization it’s a “necessary” crutch so I assume it would be used regardless of the method.
You mean like other drugs that you have to burn and then inhale the fumes, which stink and make you cough, especially when you start out using them?
Well, tobacco exists.
Like I bet if alcohol was something you had to snort…
This reminded me of this ancient internet video where a few guys (allegedly) “inhale” alcohol by adding dry ice and breathing in the vapors. Doesn’t look to be very effective, but if it was, I’d at least try it.
Alcohol < Drugs