Hookah is cool, but it's also really really bad for you, yet it's legal. Weed is safer and has even been found to be beneficial in some cases but it's still illegal. Why? Because white people didn't want to deal with Mexicans anymore i.e. racism.
Shots are a terrible terrible idea, but you know what's not a terrible idea? Sipping on a pint of draft beer or cider, a nice tall glass of wine, or a sweet little mixed drink because that's what liquor was invented for, not shots.