Who am I?

I am the greatest criminal in history.
I have killed more men than have fallen in all the wars if the world.
I have turned men into brutes.
I have made millions of homes unhappy.
I have transformed many ambitious youths into hopeless parasites.
I make smooth the downward path for countless millions.
I destroy the weak and weaken the strong.
I make the wise man a fool and trample the fool in his folly.
I ensnare the innocent.
The abandoned wife knows me;
The hungry children know me.
I have ruined millions and shall try to ruin more.

I am ALCOHOL!"