Why did Cowboys drink so much whiskey?

I'm curious to know, what drove the Cowboys of the Wild West to consume such vast quantities of whiskey? Was it a means of escape from the harsh realities of their lives? A social lubricant to foster camaraderie among their peers? Or perhaps, a coping mechanism to deal with the pressures and dangers of their profession? The reasons behind this seemingly excessive consumption have always fascinated me, and I'm eager to learn more about the motivations and cultural context that shaped this behavior.