Having spent a good amount of time in Europe I can tell you that the French, British, Spanish and Italians drink all day, including the musicians, and it doesn't seem to affect them at all when it comes time to hit.
The British drink like fish, but I guess they're used to it. Whenever I was in France there was always a glass of wine in front of me on the table. And so on. It's a cultural thing, I think. Americans go a little overboard about the evils of drinking in my opinion. I've been around booze all my life; it's impossible not to be in this business, and I know what my capacity is for alcohol.
That's the whole point, whether you're a musician or not. Knowing what your capicity is. It's unrealistic to tell young musicians, or young people in general, to never, ever drink alcohol, it's really rather ridiculous. It's also pretty silly to say "Don't get drunk." EVERYBODY is going to get drunk sooner or later. I think it's best if it happens sooner. One really embarassing night and a hangover the next day that makes you wish you could just die is all it takes to be convinced that you never, never, ever exceed your capacity for alcohol. Anyway that's all it took with me. Well, maybe more than one time but I did learn. BUT. I've never in my life been drunk on a gig. Never. When would you find the time to drink that much anyway when you're working?
It wouldn't be a gig for me without a few drinks to accompany the whole experience, but then I'm a drinker. And I don't apologize for that. I always had plenty of work, I never had a reputation for over-drinking and anyway I always enjoyed playing too much to turn any gig into a night on the town.