[athroway]

Alcohol, like all drugs, is about socializing. You get to experience strong sensations (energizing, relaxing, uninhibiting, etc.) but most of all you share these sensations with people. That's why sober people tend to get bored in a room of drunk people, or conversely why drinking (or otherwise indulging in substances) alone is a red flag for addiction. Recreational drug use, from the shared cigarette on the rooftop to binge drinking to collective mushroom trips is about making yourself vulnerable to others through strong sensations in the knowledge that they are feeling the same way. This lets you connect to people more easily: strangers strike up conversations, acquaintances become friends, friends become close friends, etc.

That's also why it's often recommended that you only drink alcohol or do drugs with people you 100% trust, especially if you're not used to it.