That's not my experience of it, Liz...

Beer has the ability to relax (maybe a bit more than you want if you don't watch the intake). The problem with Beer/alcohol is that, along with being relaxed can come being off key. All muscles relax when you're embibing, to include the ones you sing with, and some folks don't notice the diff. Plus, if not enough water *is* taken along with alcohol (and after getting a certain distance into fuzzyheadedness, how many of us really continue to think about how much water we should be drinking?), then you risk some dehydration, which is *very* bad for the voice.

Licorice root simply sooths *some*, but not like certain lozenges. It doesn't numb the area so that you cannot tell when damage is being done.

What has worked for me is to *not* dull my senses (alcohol and some lozenges do this). I like being relaxed but fully aware (no numbness in my throat or mind). That may just be me, but so far, it has never failed.