I also used to think that way. My opinion changed after I started to drink alcohol myself.
See, there is a whole spectrum between "sober" and "drunk". Drinking is not all about getting drunk. Sometimes you just want to get some wine with that Italian food. Anyway, it shouldn't be the point of drinking to just get drunk. There's a fundamental difference between sharing a bottle between friends and getting drunk alone. I can elaborate more but not now. Got stuff to do
BTW, I agree: if money is tight, it's stupid to buy alcohol and cigarettes. While I can argue why there's nothing wrong with (reasonable) drinking I don't get smoking. As one of my teachers once put it: "You stink and you pay for it." Of course, there are also health consequences but most people don't listen to health argument.