Have you ever smoked tobacco? This isn't really true. Tobacco really does have psychoactive effects even before you are addicted. Yes, all things considered, tobacco is basically evil and should be replaced with something else, but it's not like people are just making shit up about how good it feels.

One would think that people in that era would have a lot more to be nervous and irritable about. It is actually soothing for those things even if someone is not an addict.