I have a feeling this will be especially welcome news for some of the creative people who like to hang out in pubs: drinking beer helps you be more creative.
Yes, it's scientific! A study compared how men who had had two beers did on a standard creativity test compared to men who had not. The tipplers were 40% more creative!
Note: this does NOT mean they would have been 80% more creative after four beers or 120% more creative after six beers. After six beers many people require all the creativity they can muster to find their way back from the bathroom.
It does make sense that a bit of alcohol would be useful, given that it lowers inhibitions. Not just social inhibitions, but thinking inhibitions as well.
I don't remember where the tribe was located, but I remember reading that there was a tribe that considered all important decisions twice: one when they were drunk and once when they were sober. I don't know how they made their final decision if the outcome of these two sessions clashed. Maybe I need a research grant...
I'm sure wine would have the same effect but we'd better try it just to be sure. Mine's a nice merlot, please.
(Another way to be more creative is to read my book, "Creativity Now!," published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.)