Alcohol can be a great thing in live poker, especially when other people are drinking it.........
Online, alcohol is deadly. And, yes, I spoeak from experience......
I do drink when playing live, but I try to keep it very limited if I want to make money (which is kinda the whole reason.....) I had a local game (now long closed :-( ) held in a pub where I would start with a beer or 2, then order alk-free beer, but in a mug and not in anyway obviously not a real beer. This only worked a couple of times as most were regulars, and they caught on that I wasnt really drunk....