system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does alcohol make you confident?

I know it's to do with losing your inhibitions etc. but I was wondering what Physical/mental/chemical processes within the brain are actually involved with confidence and how does alcohol change that?
gpt
Alcohol is a GABA ~~agonist~~ positive allosteric modulator.

This means it affects certain receptors in your brain that modulate "inhibition". You brain needs to get excited in order to do things - but it also needs a way to calm down to avoid freaking out in a state of hyperactivity. In general, GABA accomplishes this. 

We find that certain mental states, like anxiety, are correlated to different levels of GABA activity. More GABA, more inhibition, less anxiety (and also less physical coordination, etc). Other compounds that act on GABA receptors include the benzodiazepines, like Xanax, which are used to treat anxiety. The effects of alcohol on anxiety tend to come into perceivable effect at lower doses than those that affect physical coordination.

Basically, alcohol acts on certain receptors in your brain that "calm" the brain, which results in a generalized reduction in anxiety. This, for many people, tends to result in an increase in confidence.