I would say no, drinking to excess is never rational. Never will be.
Why do alcoholics try to rationalize everything and anything especially when it comes to booze?
Normal drinkers have 1 or 2 drinks, feel woozy and stop.
Alcoholics feel woozy and they suck on that bottle harder!
I think in a lot of respects its like a baby soother to them. Its been a very long time since I sucked on bottle, or swallowed poison. Sometimes we have good days, sometimes we have bad days. The good days outweigh the bad days. The harder moments become shorter and shorter and easier to control.