[milesrout]

I think it means before the author had access to alcohol. To expand it, before the author had access to alcohol [an addictive substance[0]], he had to socialise with friends, and now that he has access to alcohol, he can instead get drunk with people, which is (for some unexplained reason) a lesser activity.

Doesn't make much sense to me, but makes more sense than any other interpretation I can think of given that alcohol production is pre-historic.

[0] Personally I disagree. I think alcohol is a nice social lubricant and that also beer and wine are nice drinks. The demand for non-alcoholic/low-alcoholic beer and wine proves wrong the people that have claimed that beer and wine aren't really enjoyed by people that drink, and that people mostly just drink to get drunk.

There are people that ruin their lives in part through abusing alcohol but I don't think alcohol is to blame. Personal responsibility. If you can't handle it, don't drink. Don't ruin it for everyone else by imposing endless additional rules because some people can't handle themselves. eg. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557549/christchurch-city...