A: I have a lot of thoughts on nootropics. There are a lot of different ones out there. Not all of them are available in the U.S. and some of them have some shady sources. I think this could be a really big conversation. I would start by referring you to my article on brain fog. It has information on some brain boosting supplements, like choline.
I don't know what elements of alcohol you're trying to replace. If you are trying to replace feeling more relaxed or social, something like GABA might be helpful. Something like a P5P might also be helpful. It depends.
As I was saying, there are a variety of nootropics. Some of them are a little sketchy because you have to purchase them with Bitcoin, and they're shipped through some obscure websites. Therefore, one cannot be quite sure about their safety. But some things that work as nootropics would be adaptogens, which are actually considered nootropics. Also, anything like choline and omega 3s are going to be helpful for cognitive enhancement.
As for relaxation, L-theanine or GABA might be helpful if you're looking for the same kind of relaxing effect you would get from alcohol. For that purpose, some people also like CBD.