> it's straight up poison save for extremely moderate quantities that almost nobody settles for when having a drink.

Prove that. I would bet you $100 right now that there is a "silent majority" (even though I dislike the term) that has no problem whatsoever with keeping their drinking under control and to reasonable levels. I am among them - I keep it to a single drink and can go weeks with them in my fridge without taking a swig.

You assume that alcohol is the problem; whereas often, even though I could be wrong; excess drinking is more often a symptom of other problems (stress, anxiety, depression, social pressure, etc.) Getting rid of symptoms does not heal the problem.

Edit for @AtlasLion ("posting too fast - please slow down"): I'm at the point where, at my levels, I feel that it is alarmism. I get that drinking alcohol is never risk-free, but by the same logic, standing outside under a tree is never risk-free. A car ride is never risk-free. Using a cell phone in public is never risk-free. Meeting a stranger is not risk-free. Taking a vaccine is not risk-free. Getting married is certainly not risk-free. It's that kind of risk in my mind.