Well, they tried to ban alcohol in the US with the 18th constitutional amendment. As a result, crime rose throughout that period, known as Prohibition. Several European nations also introduced prohibition but due to Hollywood, the American version is more famous.
After that failure they had to repeal it using the Twenty-first Amendment. It is the only Constitutional amendment ever repealed (that I know of).
People use alcohol to help them relax and lower inhibitions, which explains a lot of wild behavior by normally shy Thais.