Not too long ago I bought rubbing alcohol on amazon because it wasn't available in a few places I checked locally. I was looking for a less diluted solution, everywhere around me had, what seemed to be, the standard (I think it was 70%?) solution.
Perhaps that acquaintance was in a similar situation.
Side note that 70% is supposedly the best concentration for disinfection, but if you want it for cleaning parts or something, you'd want a more concentrated solution of course. Some drug stores will carry 99% but you can get more concentrated alcohols from scientific supply stores.
That's exactly what I was looking to do with it, cleaning. I wasn't too surprised I couldn't find it at a drug store but I was surprised I couldn't find it at a hardware store either.
Perhaps that acquaintance was in a similar situation.