Back in colonial days, that was not considered heavy drinking for 55 men. A typical day for a person of that era would start out with a tankard or two of hard cider. John Adams would drink one before he went out for his morning walk. Water was not considered healthy in those days so people (even children) would drink, depending on one's station in life, ale, cider or wine throughout the day on a regular basis.
They would all laugh at our puritanical attitudes concerning alcohol today.