I don't drink anymore, but I drank a little more just before I was diagnosed with depression. It calmed the agitation and irritability I was feeling. Actually, I may have been a bit drunk when my housemate dragged me to the university medical center. I don't think I drank more when I was hypo or manic, though. My cousin, on the other hand, goes on week-long benders when he's getting manic. I think it's a pretty common thing.