Yeah baby, I'm cured!

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It's probably alleviating your [social] anxiety, alcohol is a mild sedative after all. You cannot "fix" something that's not there, but you can help your mind relax, i.e., taking a Valium before you socialize, you're still going to be socially impaired, you just aren't going to care you are (to some extent).

Sedatives don't work on me, unfortunately.

What's funny is that, for me, it amplifies certain characteristics and dampens others. Like some of the others on this thread, it dampens my social anxiety. The downfall of that is that I tend to be more willing to say whatever comes into my head. I've been told over and over that the things I say come across as rude moreso when I'm drinking. I think I'm giving helpful advice but those around me don't see it that way.

Daniel is right. The anxiety is still there, but I tend not to notice or care that I'm in a huge crowded place or surrounded by noise. Get me in there sober and I would freak out.

The only thing alcohol makes me more likely to do is talk to people, other than that I'm the same.

If alcohol is a cure, then I think I've got a problem.

Don't get me wrong, I like a pint as much as the next fella, but... on a night out, as soon as I feel like I'm getting out of control, I start thinking about calling it a night, I like to call this the 'lead plate' situation, as it feels like there's a lead plate in between my mind and my body, slowing down the controlling impulses and the sensory feedback.

Translation, I go down, get up, take three paces, then it's owie time!

But hey, in the Tradition of Al Murray (the Pub Landlord), Let's Hear it for the beer, all hail to the Ale, and Welcome the Wine, for the Ladies!

I learned a lot about socialization when I started drinking at 19. Now I don't need it.

I admit...last year I went through a bad phase of exsessive drinking.

A few times...ended up in hospital as I decided it would be "fun" to mix my meds with alcohol in large quantities of each and see what happened.
All of those times I decided to start drinking, I was planning on having a fun night at home (even though I am underage to drink...I was irresponsible to do so). Instead...I became depressed, decided to drink more and mix medication to try and kill myself.
It did not make me less AS, but brought out suicidal tendencies in me.

I am never letting another drop of alcohol into my body...I don't want to risk what happened before, happening again.