I know I'm not the only one to be embarrassed by the drinking of fellow bandmembers. It's tough to be the only one sober, and to know that you too are assumed to be trashed. Some have told me they need a few to overcome stage fright, to "loosen up" and to help the crowd achieve that mood which heightens audience enthusiasm (lowering standards in the process.) I've wished I had a bag over my head when singers have slurred, staggered or worse. I don't intend any self-righteousness here -- I've done things I regretted too. But I've never seen a performance enhanced by alcohol, and have seen and shared plenty that were ruined by excess. This is how we musicians earned our tacky reputations.