Why are brilliant mechanics often drunks?

No, your observation is off, if it were as strongly correlated as you think, my neighbor would be a LOT better at his job.

What you will find is moderate alcohol or drug use can increase creative capacity, but at excessive amounts, usually diminishes performance in every field

 

Because they have to deal with truck drivers.

 

You ever deal with the insanity that engineers come up with all day at work, I'd be that way too. There's no real correlation there though, I know a few guys who could about start a rock and drive it around like their name is Fred Flintstone, they don't drink at all for the most part.

 

You know me?

 

I take it you don't know a lot of businessmen.

 

That’s a big old can of worms.

 

Maybe there's more to that guys story than what you know.. maybe something from his past has him drinking every night..
Maybe the reason he is a good wrench is because he put's 120% effort in to his work and it might be the 1 thing that makes him feel like life is worth waking up for daily.. theres alot of reasons people are functioning alcoholics

 

I'd ask @AModelCat but he's hung over right now.

 

i was about to post this exact same response. It is true most engineers do not have common sense.