What are intellectual effects of alcohol?

In small quantities, alcohol degrades the ability to make good decisions, which is why people do dumb things (like drive and have unsafe sex) when they've been drinking. In greater quantities it reduces other higher brain functions such as assimilation and cognition and -- in plain language -- simply makes you stupid.

When you consume a small amount of alcohol most of your inhibition is removed thereby making you think unconventionally. You can even talk about philosophy, politics and psychology.