Maybe people were permanently drunk because the daily reality was hard, booze made it more bearable. As a parent, I think of those parents with 7 kids, 4 of which would before reaching adulthood. Add terrible working condition, medicine being of much help, basic necessities like food, clothing eating most of your revenue, not much free time, etc. I would want to be tipsy often.

I would not like going to such an era. Also, beer is kinda pasteurized, safe water to drink.