I like to read about the history of beer.
Recently I finished the book by Lauren Clark called Crafty Bastards: Beer in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day.
Since Colonial time in New England, people drank beer because it was a safe beverage and considered healthy.
When A. Cressy Morrison, the Pabst Advertising Manager from 1887 to 1897, conducted ad campaigns for Pabst Extract, his message centered on the health benefits of the drink.
People drank beer even in the late nineteenth century because it was healthy.
So, in one sense, Cressy’s message made sense to people who wanted a beverage, even one with alcohol, that would benefit them.