I can measure my intoxication by the rate of dizzyness. anywhere from slight unsteadyness to eventually everything spins enough that its difficult to stand up because the only thing not moving is the flat floor beneath me. I recently observed someone maintain sobreity on beers for several hours and then switch to rum&coke and become slurry and have difficulty walking within 30mins (cumulative effects aside). I suspect that different alcohol has different specific effects on people.

Other alcohols might not make you so dizzy but might give you the "expected social buzz". If you feel like giving it a try and letting us know? (on the condition that you shout "FOR SCIENCE" as you drink...