Where did the term 'getting hammered' come from?

The term "getting hammered" is believed to have originated from the association of heavy drinking with being "pounded" or "beaten down," similar to how a hammer strikes an object. It conveys the idea of being overwhelmed or incapacitated by alcohol. The phrase likely gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly in American slang, to describe excessive drinking leading to inebriation.