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Seems like nothing beats alcohol as the best socializing agent. Otherwise, tends that you have to spend a whole lot of time (years) to build a substantial and close connection.
With alcohol, you can see what other people say and do when their self-control is impaired. It's like a mild form of mind-reading.
One problem is that, at least in my experience, drunk people are much less fun to be around when you yourself are not also drunk. As a non-drinker who sometimes casually hangs out with drinkers, the drinking gap between us often makes the connection less potent.