The tension reducing properties of alcohol may be specific to certain situations. Alcohol may reduce tension only for social stress but not for other sorts of stresses. In addition, alcohol may reduce tension only for some individuals who carry a gene for alcoholism. Finally, alcohol may not reduce tension but may dampen the impact of a stressful situation. The results of several studies support this hypothesis.
Recent reviews suggest yet another view of the relationship between stress and alcohol drinking.
According to this analysis people do not drink alcohol to reduce tension. Rather, they drink once tension has stopped and a sense of relief has set in. It accounts for the frequent observation that anxiety and alcohol drinking often go together. However, it is the sudden removal of stress that sets the occasion for drinking, rather than the situation causing stress . For example, Volpicelli et al.