i think that is the classical that old timers say "in the good ol days" or "back in my days". one of my old teachers used to say " in the ol days we did not have computers" but you see him typing away on his computer.
i think most people who say that stuff are jealous or insecure of modern days. that guy who said that, i bet he not only suffered more from alcohol, but took longer to get sober than few of the younger people in there. so i bet he is projecting history and resentment on others.