Alcohol has exceptionally bad ergonomics when it comes to intoxicants. Its strong effects on behavior and experience are wildly unpredictable, it has severe undesirable effects, it’s stongly toxic, it causes morbid dependence and has particularly bad physiological and psychological after effects. We can do better than alcohol.
Actually, I believe into conspiracy — is it even a conspiracy? — that alcohol is so popular due to the actions of those who sell alcohol.
It’s in their best interest to keep selling it indefinitely.
It’s an ideal product: its shelf life is almost infinite, it creates addiction, so the buyers would be forced to buy more and more, becoming, hmm, em, ‘returning’ client.