John - Permit me to disagree. Dutch courage isn't a myth. The problem is that it normally impairs judgement much more rapidly than it reduces nervousness. You need a rare ability to be able to handle either the moment or its later consequences. Drawing the good from the bad is even harder - can you make it work in your favour, without cringing at what you did? It's possible, but I would hesitate to recommend it as a deliberate strategy to anyone.