You're probably right, it can bring them acceptance to bring someone "on board" with their activity, drinking at the work function for instance. It's a rather needy thing to want to do I suppose and doesn't show a good strength of character or personal integrity in my estimation; something that can have adverse effects when done at a work function right?
Ha! Yeah, I have seen a few "adverse effects" for others at work functions. Long ago had one or two small ones myself and now stay away from it :-)
I just take the you do you approach with these folks and it usually works. If they are far into their cups and irrational, I just run away like a little child ;-)
Reasoning with a drunk is tiresome. I think everyone loves me when I am drunk! Hahaha! Turns out they don't!
Interesting how a drunk person thinks they're more interesting, funny, likeable or whatever...typically they are not.