George Washington, like most of the Founders, regularly imbibed a variety of fortified beverages. John Adams, upon getting out of bed every day, drank a pint of hard cider. John Hancock drank Madeira by the cask. It could be argued that the Republic was founded “under the influence.”
Alcohol was a safer choice than most water in those days.
Every year at this time I make at least 10 gallons of sparkling hard cider. I swear the stuff just evaporates. I'll have to do 15 next year.
So were the United States Marines-— being created on November 10, 1775, in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia.