Why do people say that alcohol is expensive in America? Was it seriously much cheaper before?

Over the summer I was able to buy 1.75L of vodka for under $15. That’s enough for 3 days of solo summer drinking or for a party of two. I noticed foreign beer is pricy but I doubt Americans complain about how prices of Żywiec.

Given how high salaries are in America, that’s a bargain in my eyes. If I lived in America and it was any cheaper I’d have died years ago.