I watched a TV documentary a couple of years ago about a well respected British TV reporter who was alcoholic and ended up sleeping on benches in his home town, the cameras were follwing him all around (and I think he's since died) but the question that sticks in my mind is 'Why Vodka?' his response was 'it hits the spot quicker than anything else'
I can smell a vodka drinker a mile off, it was my brothers drink.