Tonight its Simchat Torah as in Israel we celebrate one day for both Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah.
One of my continuing wonders regarding Simchat Torah in England was the alcohol. For some reason (Marketing?) it became a booze for Jews day, with no reason. Check the first paragraph from wikipedia about Simchat Torah:

Simchat Torah (שמחת תורה) is a Hebrew term which means "rejoicing with/of the Torah". It is one of the happiest days in the Jewish calendar and is marked with festivities in synagogue that include singing, dancing and (typically) a moderate consumption of alcohol.Wikipedia

I find this a contradiction to the whole Idea of sukkot and Simchat Torah itself. During sukkot we celebrated the freedom of the soul, that needs no house, that accepts its diffrent parts. On Simchat Torah we rejoice with our spiritual heiretence, we are proud to be the people of the book. Again not so intouch with the material side.
And alcohol. what it has to with that? No idea.