Alcohol is Escapism in a Bottle, for some people. For others, it's something very enjoyable and pleasant, hey you might like cigars, but I might enjoy Cognac or whatever.
It's kinda funny that many Americans see booze as still a vaguely sinful affair - restricting people from drinking it til 21 - and don't really introduce kids to it like Europeans do, in a safe and controlled way. I mean, if you've had a little diluted wine with dinner since you were 13, then its hardly a big explosion of freedom to be able to buy a beer from a bar, etc. I think it's healthier that drinking should be a normal part of life, something you might sometimes do with friends at lunch, or at dinner. Maybe the shadow of the Puritans is longer than we might think - i mean hard liquor is still banned in some states, right?
Whereas handguns, semi automatic and automatic weapons are all over the place. look in any toy store and you'll see a huge variety of plastic weapons, making boys feel comfortable with instruments of death. Add to that the violence content of TV and films, and it has me scratching my head. Alcohol = bad, Weapons of Minor Destruction = good?
PS final dig: US beer is piss-weak. i mean, really you have to admit it. sip on any fine ale from germany, belgium, uk or australia (not fosters, only tourists drink that) and you'll taste the difference.