Coffee is a mind-altering, addictive substance? Really? Mind-altering? Stimulating, sure - but mind-altering?

This is honestly becoming a little pet peeve of mine. So often a conversation with a friend about drinking less alcohol becomes about drinking less coffee. I know this isn’t at all what you are doing here, but it feels like people are trying to change the subject. Like it’s easier to talk about a (no big deal) bad habit with coffee, than a (super troubling) bad habit with alcohol... (I know coffee is a whole other thing in AA circles, here I’m referencing social circles that know they probably drink too much and don’t really want to admit that yet...)

I think alcohol deserves it’s own conversation with other drugs that we shouldn’t ingest before operating heavy machinery.

I also just see coffee as mostly harmless.

What am I missing? Do you have any thoughts on this?

Sorry for the somewhat sideways curiosity here. I really enjoyed this piece. Thank you.