http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PulqueSo, an alcoholic drink was a sacred entheogen to Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans.
Interesting how when the old order broke down under Spanish rule, the sacredness was lost and the entheogen abused, resulting in a public drunkenness problem. The Spanish introduced distillation too, though I don't know if that influenced the drunkenness (historically the rising popularity of gin over beer in London was blamed for similar problems). Another people to add to the list of conquered nations turning to booze (along with Australian Aboriginals, NZ Maoris, Irish under English rule etc).
One could draw similarities of the descent from sacredness to abuse with other entheogens, such as the coca leaf, for example. Considering something as sacred- a beverage, a plant, a life, the Earth itself- generally stops a person from abusing it.
I read in New Scientist that people turn to anaesthetics when in emotional pain (booze, heroin, cocaine, etc). Apparently the part of the brain which deals with physical pain also deals with emotional brain, hence the choice of anasthetics by the unhappy. The scientists are therefore considering trials of giving people aspirin instead of anti-depressants.
Everything I write is fictional roleplay. Obviously! End tribal genocide: www.survival-international.org Quick petitions for meaningful change: www.avaaz.org/en/
End prohibition: www.leap.cc www.tdpf.org.uk And "Feeling Good" by David D.Burns MD is a very useful book.