Facts about 18th century alcohol consumption

Average 18th century Americans consumed 3 - 5 gallons of hard liquor and at least 15 gallons of beer and cider per year. 

Men, women and children all partook of alcohol.

The temperance movement would not begin in earnest until about 1830, well into the 19th century. That said there were voices in opposition to alcohol consumption. One such is Thomas Jefferson: "I wish to see ... beer, become common instead of the whiskey which kills one third of our citizens and ruins their families." John Wesley opined in 1743: "that buying, selling, and drinking of liquor, unless absolutely necessary, were evils to be avoided"

Woman and children tended to drink lower alcohol content beverages such as small beer, wine and cider. Small beer is drawn at the end of the brewing process and therefore contains less alcohol.