I was reading the article about how to get your emotionally uptight friend to open up and I was wondering what people thought of the use of alcohol?

Not, is it the tool of the devil, but more, do people say the truth when they have had rather a lot to drink or not? In vino veritas or is that just a load of bollocks.

Alcohol can definitely help someone open up. I've only been able to help certain friends when they've had a few. It would seem it acts as a short cut, removing inhibitions that take much longer to displace through conversation only.

Those who have opened up when a bit under the influence may regret it, depending on what they've said, but the info was probably all true. They might say 'Oh I'm sorry about coming out with all that last night' but I'm sure that they often feel relieved to have got things out in the open anyway.