Alex had planned to murder his business partner, bard, and acquire bard's shares. when he performed the deed, he was in a highly intoxicated state. the court:

If he performed the deed while he was in a highly intoxicated state, the court: will hold him incapable of forming intent and punish him for second-degree murder

In united states, any form of crimes that performed under mental disablement (such as intoxicated state, insanity, or psychological disorder), will had a reduction of punishment because the court will see it as a form of negligence instead of intent.

The best sociological research method would have to be using experiments although it has some disadvantages as well