A study was done on this recently and I remember seeing it on the news.

The conclusion was that Alcohol is great for socialising and the biggest factor for meeting new people, having relationships etc. It is also pretty brilliant for the economy aswell.

Going out and getting drunk does not damage your body, the liver is a pretty amazing organ and can take quite the beating.

People becoming alcoholics is something else and pretty sad, but if it wasn't alcohol then it would probably ileagle drugs etc. (Yeah i know being an alcoholic is just as bad as doing heroin if not worse)