This will sound funny coming from a recovering alcoholic/addict but I actually think alcohol is an excellent anti anxiety med IF used responsibly and in small amounts. Safer than benzo's in my opinion. The problem is you just can't have three or four drinks in the middle of the day if you have to drive or function. It has a high potential for abuse but so do benzo's. I believe they act on the same receptors.

If you don't have an addictive personality and you have two drinks to treat social anxiety or general anxiety I don't think it is a big deal. If you have more than that or you drive than that creates problems.

Maybe you could use an anti anxiety med only as needed during the day for big social events and if you had a very difficult day have a few drinks at night to relax. There are some big IFs with me saying this though.

If I could drink safely I would probably use it in that way.