In the 1700s...Russia was known for it’s alcohol usage.
I think typical US alcohol consumption prior to the 1920s...was awful high, and it’s only been in the last fifty years that consumption in the US has gone down to some degree.
I remember this topic coming up about the construction of the Pentagon, and how the vast number of workers in the building were drunk or near-drunk as they were building it.
Heavy drinking was widespread in Europe and US on the eve of 20th century.