While science fiction stories may be set in the future, they're written in the present, and there's no getting away from that. When I see a majority of characters people smoking centuries from now, I know the story was probably written decades ago. While I think social drinking is more likely to be common than widespread smoking in societies descended from ours, what people will be drinking is up for grabs, and whatever you decide is likely to seem dated decades hence. Unless it's structurally important to the plot, is there any need to make it specific exactly what people are drinking, if such is even included? After all, humans go to the bathroom several times a day, but it's the rare story that makes a point of noting each occasion.
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