Absolutely , I’ve always said if alcohol was invented tomorrow and studies upon the effects it had on human beings it would be illegal
Anthropologists, archeologists, historians, biologists etc have studied our brewing and cinsumption of alcohol and most agree humanity would not have developed without it.
It is believed the first to sow crops and form agricultural communities were mainly for growing the ingredients to brew early forms of alcohol, as a means to get nutrients from said crops, ale came before bread as a food source.
Most water full of bacteria could kill early humans so boiling or brewing drinks to kill toxins were necessary
The nomally below 3% abv that was produced for centuries was not the problem this we devised in more modern times with more stronger concoction.
Plus if it didn't exist our need for an intoxiating escape would have meant we just dabbled in some other narcotic.
But yes if invented today it would never be allowed, but a few millenia ago it was necessary, we have just like with most things we do as a species abused it's useful part and made it a problem.