Honestly? You’d be surprised at how helpful it can be. I’ve sent routes with a slight buzz that I never could have done completely sober. It helps take the edge off the fear, and it helps you stay loose and keeps you from sapping all your strength from tensing too much. Every advantage helps when you’re pressing your limits.
Climbing while excessively drunk is of course a terrible idea.
You mean to tell me that 2008 was 17 years ago? This makes me deeply unhappy.