I used to drink heavily as an AFC beleiving that it made me more intresting, have less inhabitions, and generally have more fun.
Now i realize i used to drink to make other people intresting and fun, and that to really get over my inhabitions on a long term basis i needed to have a clear head.
Now when i go out i make it a personal rule not to buy myself any drinks, i only drink if i can get a girl to buy me one. Instead i order seltzer water, looks the same as holding any other drink and usually its free

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I've found it a million times easier to observe both external social interactions (between people im not involved with) and also internal social interactions (with people im directly interacting with). I also find myself able to process the information i take in, adapt on the fly, and later really look back and make changes. When i used to drink i would just wake up with a head ache and if i was lucky some memories...
IMO at least til my game becomes natural i will not drink on my own accord, i think the terms i setup for myself to have a drink reward me for the effort i put into sargeing, and thus add incentive to help me overcome my insecurities and inhabitions.
Hope this helps.