Here is a list of booze imported into Charleston in a one year period starting Nov. 1787. At the time there were less than 10,000 white Southerners living there, not all of them eligible to drink. Some of the measurements used are a bit obscure, but overall I'd say that is a whole lot of spirits for a population that size.
Rum W. 1. & N. E...........354 hhds. & pun.
--..........121 casks and barrels
Wine..........31 pipes
--..........41 hhds.
--..........569 casks
--..........358 cases
Brandy..........91 pipes
--..........88 casks
Gin..........1561 cases
Porter..........324 hhds & casks
1763........."At this time in Massachusetts, there were sixty-three distilleries, and thirty-five distilleries in Rhode Island..."
Sounds like a lot of consumption going on up there.