Why It "Works"?

Alcohol, that is.

LiveScience reported on how alcohol changes the brain.

Only 6 minutes after consuming an amount of alcohol equivalent to three beers — leading to a blood alcohol level of 0.05 to 0.06 percent, which impairs driving ability — changes had already taken place in the brain cells. ... The concentration of substances such as creatine (energy metabolism), which protect brain cells, decreases as the concentration of alcohol increases. Choline, a component of cell membranes, was also reduced.

"That probably indicates that alcohol triggers changes in the composition of cell membranes," [one of the researchers said.

At this point, they said, they don't know what the long-term effects, if any, might be.

A great deal of research is being done in many places to figure out the impact of alcohol- and of course alcoholism. There appears to be a great deal of evidence growing that a lot of different things happen in and around the brain-functions thanks to alcohol use. We know that there are things that happen in the brain as the result of alcohol use that change neuro-chemicals and therefore thinking processes. Do these happen to all people, only those who may have a genetic pre-disposition or those who drink heavily over a long period of time?

In the long run the value would be, among others, to help remove the still-present stigma for many that alcoholism (and other addictions) are moral failings. That will go a long way in helping more people deal with the surrounding issues with less fear.