Many people use wine as a social lubricant at parties.
social lubricant
idiomA food, beverage, drug or activity that helps people feel more comfortable in social occasions.
Origin
disputed originBy a metaphor in which facilitating human social interaction is portrayed as lubricating machinery (e.g., oiling the gears, greasing the wheels); in this regard, compare also lubrication payment.
He felt shy at the wedding, so he used the open bar as a social lubricant to start conversations.
While some view music as a necessary social lubricant for large gatherings, others prefer quiet environments to foster deeper connections.