[nelsonic]

Is nobody going to mention that the "research" that lead to this article was funded by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and it's conclusions might be biased toward portraying alcohol consumption in a favourable light?

Drink more beer/wine/etc in pubs if you want to bond with people.

Yes, alcohol can be a social lubricant, but there is no shortage of evidence that social bonding can/does occur without it.