[vintermann]

In our culture, we've created a space of less accountability around alcohol. We judge people less harshly for what they do under influence of alcohol. Mostly, it means you don't need to worry about mild social norm breaking, others (and yourself) will ascribe it partially to the alcohol rather than your inherent character.

Not all cultures have this. Cultures ascribe widely different attributes to alcohol. That's for another post, though.

I'm convinced this isn't a free lunch. This space of less self-control we've carved out, comes at the cost of MORE demands when we're sober. I think your shell, and mine as well, was in part a product of a culture where we, like Dr. Jekyll, sought to split off some sides of ourselves.