I suspect 9eB1 meant that a drink should have "psychoactive properties" to gather a culture of "tasting notes" around its perceived "flavour properties" and somehow although people drink for the psychoactive properties, they believe they drink for the flavour properties.

Yes, I think he means something like that and I disagree with that. I think alcoholic drinks actually have a very diverse and interesting set of flavors that are worth exploring even without the psychoactive effect of alcohol. De gustibus, of course...