Except when dealing with other drunks.

Nope, even on that occasion.

Alcohol makes you braver and more apt to disregard your insecurities and inhibitions. It does not make you "better" at social things. It's really a roleplaying thing, and not a mechanical bonus.

It would go in stages. Initiailly, it would probably be a -1 to all checks, but give an equal benefit to ignore the same amount of penalty from both stun and physical. (you don't resist damage better, but you can ignore the effects of it easier)

Also, probably decrease the amount of ones needed to glitch by that same amount. (bad things tend to happen, like tripping over stationary objects).

Afterwords, the penalties would start being higher than the bonuses.

Any test to resist fear is not subject to the dice penalty, but instead gets a bonus = to the penalty it would have had.

I have a theory that anyone...anyone...when sufficiently drunk, will decide that calling someone (particular a current or ex significant other) on the phone is a very good idea.

Covered by the penalties of accumulating Stun damage, per my method.

Besides, drink enough booze and you pass out. Sounds like Stun damage to me!

This mechanism means that big guys take longer to notice initial effects than small guys [70 minutes vs 30 minutes] (which I'm pretty much ok with), but that when the alchohol does finally hit them it hits them harder [9S vs 5S].

• After 70 minutes using the aforementioned scenario, average guy has had to resist 5S twice, probably has 8 boxes [out of 10] of stun and is close to unconcious.
• In the same timeframe the troll has had to resist 9S once, probably has 7 boxes [out of 12] of stun and is tanked, but not completely blitzed.

Does this seem about right, or should body play more of a factor?

Yeah that's the part I thought might need a little tweaking. It seems like a bigger guy should be able to drink more with less effect, but then it may be just delayed effect. On the other hand even if it isn't totally accurate if it works well enough to resolve things like drinking contests you could just use it. I just made it up based on what had gone through the thread so far.

Or maybe we should do some actual test drinking to see what really happens, I'll drink you take notes

(2+1 for every drink consumed within Body * 10 minutes - Bod/2)S Appropriate Toxin Filters apply

Might work a little better?

You can take addiction for alcohol, you can't take it for nicotine or caffeine.

And that matters because ... ?

Strictly speaking, absolutely nothing. When the standard mechanic/system fails, then you need to make something completely different up. I'm fine with that.
But one of the major points of 4th ed, as I understand it, was simplification and streamlining. Given that, and all other things being equal, I'd rather fit it into the existing toxin/drug framework than use something else.
Although I fully admit the possibility that the existing mechanic is not capable of modelling alcohol to a reasonably approximate degree, but that's what I'm looking for opinions on.

Average Human, Bod 3, Rea 3, Wil 3.

First 2 drinks 0 effect.

Drink 3: Wil (1) test
Drink 4: Wil (2) test
Drink 5: Wil (3) test

Drink 6+: Wil (4+) test but without edge you can’t get 4 hits on 3 dice so all further drinks just tack on the appropriate effect.

Lets assume the worst case and Mr. Average fails all three tests he can try. He will become incapacitated when he loses 3 reaction since dropping any stat to zero basically incapacitates you in one way or another.

So now, if Mr. Average fails his three tests he will have that occur at drink 10. He will have incurred 2s stun, and still be conscious, just unable to act in any way due to a complete lack of reaction. But he can solve calculus problems (logic). Also I’ve personally seen people drink themselves unconscious, and it would be virtually impossible under that system.

So the drawbacks are:
It does not really model reality.
It is a mechanic entirely alien to SR4.

Take a toxin based system where it is a 10 minute onset and some variable stun damage resisted with body, similar to what is suggested above and you’ve got penalties increasing as you get closer and closer to unconscious, and you can vary the kick of a drink by varying the damage code. That glass of wine may only be 3s, but that troll grunge bar’s small beer may be 6s.

Well, I'm guessing that the place where people like Fortune and myself get our hate for the addiction rules is that in all previous incarnations of the rules, they basically boiled down to: If your PC ever looks at a BTL or drinks a beer, they will be face-down dead in a gutter somewhere in three months. Four if they roll well.

Personally, I think the SR4 mechanics are a lot better in this regard, and a moderate drug habit can be realistically maintained indefinitely.

I'm definitely leaning towards the toxin version that I quoted above, but varying the power of the toxin depending on the drink as Demerzel suggests.

Pretty much. I just find the overly crippling effects of drugs (toxins I don't mind quite as much) inane in this type of game setting.

I do understand what you're saying, but this is a game where murder is glorified, theft is expected, kidnapping is an everyday occurance, organleggers are your friend, and even child sex is mentioned in the main rulebook. It's just plain idiotic for it to have to have a 'Drugs Is Bad, Yo' sticker on the front.