As a former alcoholic, ethanol is the worst garbage there is. You might as well hit your toes/whatever with a hammer - there's the pain, the near instant release of morphine and the (very long) hangover :D

It is in our nature to disassociate with reality/consciousness imo, for many of us it's too much to handle.

There are much better alternatives out there and I wish they weren't so demonized.