Very good post snowman.
A little off topic here, but I study the use/effects/relationship of alcohol among the Alaska Native population and a theory that I posit is: "Most" "mainstream" people are 12-15 the first time they see a heavily intoxicated person, and they don't see a family member or close adult imbibe to excess until they are maybe in their 20's. In rural Alaskan villages, most people have very early memories of seeing an intoxicated person and have seen a close family member or adult friend intoxicated by the time they reach the age of 5 - this says as much about the family and community demographics of rural Alaska as it does the amount of alcohol consumed.
But do you think these factors combined may affect the way the Alaska native community sees/accepts/interacts-with alcohol?