“Hard drinker? Drinking’s one of the easiest things to do”

People who drink alcohol are “hard” drinkers (as opposed to those who like “soft” drinks). A classic joke was printed in the New York City humor magazine Puck on September 18, 1895:
 
The Philanthropist—In giving you that quarter, sir, I’m afraid I’ve befriended a hard drinker.
The Beneficiary—You’re mistaken this time, sir; drinking is one of the easiest things I do.
   
     
15 September 1895, Kansas City (MO) Star, pg. 12, col. 6:
Groundless Fears.
From Puck.
The Philanthropist—In giving you that quarter, sir, I’m afraid I’ve befriended a hard drinker.
The Beneficiary—You’re mistaken this time, sir; drinking is one of the easiest things I do.
 
Google Books
18 September 1895, Puck (New York, NY), pg. 70, col. 1 illustration:
GROUNDLESS FEARS.
THE PHILANTHROPIST.—In giving you that quarter, sir, I’m afraid I’ve befriended a hard drinker.
THE BENEFICIARY.—You’re mistaken this time, sir; drinking is one of the easiest things I do.
     
22 July 2001, New York (NY) Times, “At a ‘Crazy Little Theater,’ Mixing Bessie Smith and Penguins” by Alvin Klein, pg. WE12, col. 3:
Sample: “They say I’m a hard drinker, but it’s one of the easiest things I do.”
 
Google Groups: alt.support.stop-smoking
OT: Drunk Jokes
Stardust
4/8/06
(...)
* Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much sense to me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.
 
Twitter
❤️ FizzyDuck ❤️
@FizzyDuck
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much senseto me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.
4:06 PM · Apr 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
vanessa_willims
@vanessa_willims
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much sense to me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.
12:35 PM · Oct 31, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Facebook
I swear to Beer I did’nt drink GOD
May 22, 2011 ·
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much sense to me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do
 
Twitter
Lorraine Jo King
@lahlahbean
#wednesdaywit
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker?” It never made much sense to me,“ said paddy “drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.”
3:10 AM · Aug 21, 2019·Crowdfire App