Anything that doesn't work very well, probably should be ditched. Liquor (and many drugs) is depressing so it can't work for depression, no matter what. If one is serious about one's depression, I think a "fair" and real test could be decided on and made with a med or combination of meds under a doctor's supervision to see if meds help. From what I've read, I'd also work hard at psychotherapy at the same time I was trying whatever meds were recommended. I'd do a lot of research as certain meds work for certain types of people, etc. and see if I couldn't help my doctor decide on which ones, if any, I wanted to try. Depression is a "problem" similar in many ways to other medical problems and I'd approach it like I do my other problems and get a bit of comfort/interest in doing so. It's hard to solve a problem by avoiding it.