Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, making you unafraid, even of things you should be careful of. Decreases logical decision making ability as well as reaction time. It is a powerful gateway drug, because, since your decision making ability is so affected, and you seem unafraid of anything, people try heroin, cocaine, XTC, unprotected sex, driving fast, and getting into fights, when not under its influence, these same people wouldn't think of doing these stupid things. Alcohol causes many problems for many people!