I always go for a pint in the town for a couple of hours before match, I meet people I went to school with (I'm 53), one is a lad I first started going to games with in 1983... the only time I see him is before the match, we don't sit together at match.
I have 3 or 4 pints, and love the buzz in town, always get to seat on time, always watch all the game.
Don't see the harm.