I tried to look up Effexor in my nursing book that I bought at school and found that it only says to stay away from alcohol. On my drug, Lexapro, the book said that it would increase the side-effects of the drug. I suspect that your drug would be similar. However, alcohol also tends to let you down after it leaves your system which will make you feel more depressed. I have also seen a friend of mine who eats poorly which is a concern with alcoholism. It sounds to me like you have a clear understanding of your situation. I hope you will talk with your counselor about it. If you can't quit at this point, then see if you can cut back. I hope you can get the help and support that you need and make a good decision on what to do about the situation.