I always offer my guests a drink (and alcohol is an option), whether it's a party or just one or two people coming over. I find it hard to imagine declaring anything I hosted dry (putting aside times when there might be legal issues or the like) because I trust my friends and it's up to them to decide whether they want a drink. I might make choices regarding availability to set a tone or mood, but banning alcohol? Unless it was a nicety for a friend of Bill, I don't see it.

For plenty of people, one drink or less is enough to help them relax a little and have a better time and I don't see what the problem is with that. It's not that different from drinking a cup of coffee in the morning to help wake up.

Personally, I neither drink coffee (at all) nor consume alcohol with any regularity, so this isn't just a rationalization for my own beverage habits, but it was the subject of a recent discussion with some friends.