Try having one drink on a somewhat empty stomach. You can sip on it and it should affect a person in the slightest, just taking the edge off. One or two drinks after eating should not impair you very much.
Another thing I find reduces anxiety is exercise. Workout, shower, then sarge. Or better yet, workout, sarge at the gym, and shower with a new friend!
Honestly, a few things that take the edge off for me:
a cigarette (im not a smoker, so one takes me wayyyyy down off my jitters)
a tasty beer (plus gives you a topic of conversation if it's a micro-brew!)
doing pushups until failure (working out releases endorphines just like...)
eating something very spicy (capsaicin, the active ingredient in spicy foods, is known to release endorphines, making you feel happier, more confident, and at ease)
and finally, controlled yoga breathing. this is the best thing i learned from my semester in yoga last year. breathe in DEEPLY (full capacity and then some). As you are doing this, puff out your stomach, filling your belly with air. hold it... 1..2...3...4..5.. release slowly, sucking your stomach and waist tight as you exhale. do this a few times, should calm you down. helps me sleep a lot too, or relax before giving a speech in class.
becoming aware of your heartbeat is an awesome feeling. it makes you feel in total control of your body. you can feel it racing when you exercise, and if you learn to control your breathing (like i explained) you can slow it down. this is great for your nerves and has saved me from actually having a hyperventilation/panic attack during a marine corps 3-mile fit test run. for an event where the goal is to push myself until i projectile vomit at the end, learning to be in complete control of my cardiovascular system was invaluable. just think of how much it could help out the little things in your life.