It might not seem like a “real” drug because its cheap and easy to get and legal, but it has both positive and negative effects and I feel the right to drink should still be guarded.
in my own lifetime I’ve seen more and more clampdowns, restriction zones, challenge 21, challenge 25 now (which is a real pain as I look around 23 despite my age so get carded all the time) – worse, I have lost my approved DOB card and my passport is expired (I’d rather not carry it about anyway on a drinking session).
I enjoy drinking reasonable amounts of decent alcohol – usually Scotch or English beer, normally bitter or golden ale (I would suggest the pale lager drinkers try this if you find it).
I am really lucky I do not get angry or violent when drinking, it makes me happier (of course too much and I fall over and pass out, but I don’t drink to that extent unless it is for the “comedown” time).
Whilst moderate amounts of alcohol aren’t psychedelic or stimulant, they remove inhibitions and can increase creativity to some extent, particularly when it involves the exchange of ideas within a group. I was reading the Nikon camera website and the history of how a lot of excellent camera lenses were designed, and the Japanese dude writing this explained how drinking a lot of sake after work was as important as working hard in the daytime and doing all the extremely brainy stuff the Japanese do to make all our gadgets.
The Chinese do this as well. As East Asians are often quite shy in large groups, alcohol is a good way to encourage social behaviour.
