I think I notice people drinking more now that I don't drink, but I also notice that there are a LOT of people who don't drink at all or when they do just have a minimal amount.
I mentioned earlier in a post today that a friend of a friend just passed away last Friday at 42 from cirrhosis. Ironically they served beer at the funeral reception as "he would have wanted his friends to have a beer at his funeral". Even his death couldn't remove alcohol from his legacy. Sad but telling of our society at times.