The most convincing reason I have seen for drinking is the one given by Aldous Huxley in The Devils of Loudun: to escape our "sweaty selves". In short to achiev

The most convincing reason I have seen for drinking is the one given by Aldous Huxley in The Devils of Loudun: to escape our "sweaty selves". In short to achieve a small escape from the constant experience of being ourselves. A somewhat similar take though more strategic it is said the ancient Persians either debated drunk and decided sober or debated sober and decided drunk.