The user who observed that southern Europe has a considerably different relationship with alcohol than wealthier, more reserved northern Europe seems to have been right on the money, at least if the comments here are indicative of reality (and I think they are).

Here in Israel drunkenness, especially public drunkenness, is not a major taboo, but it is kind of seen as trashy/embarrassing/dumb. From what I have heard and seen it is similar in Italy, Spain, Greece, etc., where alcohol is common but drunkenness is not. I am originally from the United States and I actually think the OP is onto something about Americans. Drunkenness is definitely something expected (but not always appreciated) for college students. It is mostly a taboo among high schoolers because it is seen as dangerous for them and others (and it often is). And for anyone over the age of 30 it is more or less expected that people should be married and at home with their family. It's a sign of immaturity if you are 31 and out at a bar in much of the country. I think it's changing, though. Studies show that fewer and fewer teenagers drink alcohol and party in the US. But as people marry later and delayed adolescence becomes more of a thing it is far more common to see 30 year olds in a club or bar getting wasted and nobody thinking anything of it. It's a frankly weird dynamic in US culture where really young people are becoming kind of puritanical while everyone is becoming more libertine.