This is an interesting topic. I don't drink at all anymore because of medical condition, but even when I did I learned early on that drinking was for after the performance. The simple truth is, excessive drinking stunts your growth. If you just wanna please the crowd in a rowdy bar or festival; then dinking may not hurt you. If you want to be the best you can be, as a performer, any amount of drink will diminish your abilty.

The truth is, at those shows where your music is all about party and fun, and the crowd is drinking heavily (eg. Saint Paddy's day), you can still have just as much fun performing without drinking. I ahev stayed up all night, jamming with musician freinds, many of whom are drinking to excess - and had every bit as much fun as anyone, and I was not hung over in the mornin'!

One more thing ... I am certain that every msucian friend that I've had who used that tired excuse, "I play best when I'm stoned or drunk " is a liar. That lame excuse is commonly used, but, I suspect, never true. I love the Bonny Rait quote - when she went to Stevie Ray Vauhn perform for the first time since he got sober, she said she wondered if he'd play with the same intensity, and she said she was floored ... because his show was so awesome, "he burned a hole in the sun." It inspired her to get sober as well. Great story, and to the point.