Funny thing is, gin was originally cheap booze for the masses.

"Drunk for a penny
Dead drunk for two pence
Clean straw for free."

I recall a drawing by the name "Gin Lane" ...
(google image search)

-Bob

There was a time when government manipulation of the market in England made gin much, much cheaper than beer for the equivalent "high."

Gin has a sort of dual lineage: to this day, it appeals to either highbrow or VERY lowbrow tastes.

I like to think I'm the latter . . . ;)

Without gin, much of Europe would not have replaced their existing population. Like today. There must be a poem or ode mentioning "key" and "gates" somewhere.

Vodka helped too, of course.

Ah, but that's in Eastern Europe.