[Gigachad]

That’s just people who have friends and socialise are healthier. There are only negative health effects from alcohol itself.

If you went out to all those same events and just drank non alcoholic drinks you’d be healthier.

[fragmede]

That assumes you'd be the same amount of social at those events without alcohol. If a beer or two takes the edge off and you're able to relax and relate and socialize and you're happy, vs you're nervous and uptight and are alone in a crowd, you don't get the same benefit. It's not called a social lubricant for nothing.