One thing that raised my eyebrows during the whole COVID era was that for all the health-conscious practices that were implemented, the one un-healthy thing that was embraced was the consumption of alcohol. Virtual Zoom "happy hours" were often held at the end of a workday; having a beer, glass of wine or a mixed drink at one's computer was more than acceptable.
It was astonishing, when you think about it--we could not get toilet paper at times; milk, eggs and other items had limits on how much you could purchase. But when it came to alcohol, hey--the sky's the limit. Never seemed to be any shortages with liquor. You had to follow arrows around the store at Kroger or Publix, but the liquor stores were wide open. Alcohol was deemed an "essential" product during the pandemic.
I noticed that as well. It seemed like something from the Soviet Union. Everyone is miserable, and the grocery store is empty — but at least we have vodka!!!
Some states were criticized for keeping liquor stores open while shutting down churches.