A small tipple might get creative juices flowing

THERE’S a Mitchell and Webb sketch called “The Inebriati”, about a secret society that rules the world, bound by the creed that ‘‘humanity is better and more noble after very nearly two drinks”.

It opens with Robert Webb sitting in a white legal wig and gown fretting about his first day as a barrister, when David Mitchell magically appears next to him, hands him two wine glasses, one only half-filled, and says: “No buts, just drink.”

Webb’s character immediately feels like anything’s possible and wins his dubious first case.

Flash forward 12 years and the inebriati have made him president of the world.

It’s not often that such flights of fancy are reflected in reality, but recent research into the effects of alcohol have found an element of the sketch might be true.

While the destructive effects of too much alcohol are widely reported, and binge drinking is a very real problem in the UK – there is evidence to suggest that in moderation, alcohol can be of some benefit.

Scientists in the US discovered that after drinking only two pints of beer or two glasses of wine, men were better at solving creative brain teasers and answered the questions faster than men who were sober.

The study was led by University of Illinois cognitive psychologist Jennifer Wiley, who says: “If you get a little tipsy, people are significantly better at finding weird, remote answers.

There is a common belief, when we are trying to think or solve problems, that it really helps us to focus on things. Well, sometimes too much focus might hurt us.”

British darts champion Andy Fordham has admitted that he relied on alcohol to numb the pressure and was drunk when he won his world title in 2004. “Before my first ever world champs in 1995, I was incredibly nervous, so I drunk shedloads and the worst thing happened: it worked,” he said in 2007.

“It helped the concentration, numbed everything, you weren’t aware of what was going on behind you, you could just concentrate on what was in front of you, the board. I know it was dreadful for my health, but it just seemed right.”

While boozy office lunches might be a thing of the past, certain companies, including Google London who have a regular Thank Google It’s Friday (TGIF) event, admit to having beer fridges in the office to recognise the fact their staff work long hours.

IN Silicon Valley, the chief executive of appmaker Tello, Joe Beninato, says: “Our philosophy is that if we treat our employees like adults, they’ll respond accordingly.” When an app was chosen for the Apple online store in February, they celebrated with “a little” bourbon.

Harley Street psychologist Dr Massimo Stocchi says our ancestors knew the benefits of a glass of wine only too well: “The Romans were the greatest consumers of two natural products: wine and olive oil. Not only has this tradition developed into one of the most widely enjoyed liquids, but we have to be constantly reminded of the added benefits of this.

“A glass of wine (even two) helps your body rid itself of unhelpful fatty deposits and makes life that much more enjoyable when at the table enjoying a great meal feeling connected with the people who mean the most to you.

“The underlying factor most beneficial to us is that this alcohol breaks down social walls of feeling inhibited and closed off pressing us to become more social and more relaxed in our bodies.

“Most of us carry the script around that we are not good enough... Add a glass or two and hey presto – you forget about being good enough and simply enjoy the interaction that you’re having.”

But there’s a fine line between alcohol enhancing confidence and it becoming a force for evil.

AS David Mitchell’s character warns in the Inebriati sketch: “Beyond the state of mildly intoxicated perfection, lies drunken madness, third pints, kebabs and destruction.”

Anna, 30, thought a little drink during a job interview would help relax her, but it backfired: “I once had a job interview over lunch and there was wine involved. Initially, I thought, great – this is far more relaxed and informal than a usual interview. At first, things were going well but whenever I drink wine at lunchtime, it goes straight to my head, and I ended up dropping lasagne all down my front.

I’m not sure if it had anything to do with it, but I wasn’t offered a job.”

Darts champion Fordham gave up drinking in 2007, having been admitted to hospital with advanced cirrhosis of the liver, only one of the myriad of health problems alcohol can cause, according to Drinkaware (drinkaware.co.uk), including cancers, stroke, sexual problems and depression.

Dr Stocchi says: “Be mindful that there is a limit to the disinhibited feelings brought on by alcohol – by being aware of your tolerance levels you will be seen to be more sociable, more relaxed and taking the moral of the story to heart – that there is a more confident and definitely good enough person under your skin.”