Yeah it does seem very underrated, doesn't it? Alcohol is pretty much our national drug here, and deeply ingrained in our culture: birthday drinks, post-funeral drinks down the pub, first legal drink (a big tradition here) etc etc....
I know the pleasures of booze well, but have to limit myself strictly; bad liver caused by past issues with alcoholism.
It's interesting that in many countries, booze is a class A drug. Also interesting is the fact that a glass of alcohol is always called a drink, never a drug; and you can be "wet" or "sober", never "clean" or "dirty". The socialy acceptable drug? Or just the reek of hypocrisy?
IMO The very best "legal high" is opium poppy pods; okay, it's illegal to prepare it for consumption, but come on- this is legally obtained opium we're talking about. Opium!