being rational in social situations
Can you clarify what you mean by this? (My guess is that you're indulging in some nearsighted consequentialism here.)
With alcohol drinking, there is a risk that you will get drunk and do something really stupid
Doing stupid things while drunk can be fun. You can get good stories out of it, and it can promote bonding (e.g. in the typical stereotype of a college fraternity). Danger can be exciting, and getting really drunk is the easiest way for young people in otherwise comfortable situations to get it.
Edit: I'm uncomfortable with the way you're tossing around the word "irrational" in this comment. Rationality is about winning. Are the people you're calling irrational systematically failing to win, or are they just using a different definition of winning than you are? Are you using "rationality" to refer to winning, or are you using it to refer to a collection of cached thoughts / applause lights / tribal signals? (This is directed particularly at "smart-but-irrational people who make big money selling some products to irrational people around them...")
Are the people you're calling irrational systematically failing to win, or are they just using a different definition of winning than you are?
Actually, I am not sure. Or more precisely, I am not sure about the proper reference class, and its choice influences the result. As an example, imagine people who believe in homeopathy. Some of them (a minority) are selling homeopathic cures, some of them (a majority) are buying them. Let's suppose that the only way to be a successful homeopatic seller is to believe that homeopathy works. Do these successful sell...
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post, even in Discussion, it goes here.