There are some things that we drink because we are thirsty, there are some things that we drink because they complement a meal, and then there are the things that we drink just for the sake of getting drunk. The first and last categories require no explanation. Our focus will be on those items which complement a meal, and in turn, enhance the overall dining experience. Dining experience needn't imply something fancy. A hot dog at the ball park can constitute a dining experience; and in this case, it is an experience benefits from an ice-cold lager style beer.
Wine
Deciding which wine to drink can be difficult. The only way that you're going to learn what it is that you like, and that you dislike, is by tasting different wines. To help understand the tasting process, you should read the essay on the ABC's of Wine Tasting by Thomas Matthews, located on the Wine Spectator's website. This is an excellent essay, and perhaps the most important point that it makes is "Remember that tasting is not a test--your subjective response is more important than any "right answers." The bottom line is: Wine that tastes good to you is good wine." After reading the essay, browse the Wine Spectator's site, use the Wine Search feature to find some recommended wines in your price range, and you're off.
Port
Often times, after an especially nice meal, lingering about is the thing to do. For this type of lingering, the proper drink is needed. Here, coffee comes up short, as the longer you wait to drink your coffee, the less desirable it becomes. And generally you've reached that point in the evening where you've moved on past wine, and having moved on, there is no going back. Certainly scotches and brandies can come into play, but for many people's pallets, these are a bit harsh. Where then, is a person to turn? To Portugal of course, and the wine which draws its name from the city of Porto. Port is much sweeter than regular wine. This is due to the brandy which is introduced into the wine before the fermentation process is complete. The brandy kills the yeast before it can eat up all the grape's natural sugars, hence the sweetness. Port is generally around 30% alcohol, and thus is served in small (1 1/2 - 2 ounce) glasses. Older ports can have a good amount of sediment in them, and may benefit from a decanting. If you are forking over the money to buy an older port, you either know what you are doing, or you are hopefully smart enough to ask the wine shop proprietor for his suggestions on decanting. As with wine, once uncorked, port's flavor will begin to head downhill. Though it won't turn to vinegar, it will not be as good as when it was first opened, so try to consume any bottles of port within a week of having opened them.
Beer
There is nothing more ridiculous than a beer snob. This goes for both the consumers of microbrew who shun their noses at the traditional American breweries, and the drinkers of traditional American beers who find microbrewed beers unpalatable without ever even trying them. Snobbery and beer just don't go together. Beer is bigger than that.
There really isn't much about drinking beer that needs to be said. Go to the local liquor store and buy a six pack of what you like best. The only thing to bear in mind is: light beers in warm weather; dark beers in cold weather. If you like Bud or Coors, then bully for you. If you like MGD, go to hell - it's people like you that make it virtually impossible to find Miller High Life (the Champaigne of Beers) anymore.
I find the majority of online beer information depressing. Reading about a great micro brewery on the other side of the country doesn't make me really happy. Still, if you feel like torturing yourself, The Real Beer Page would be a place to start. There's lots of information on beer, and it includes a nifty virtual beer tour that allows you to search for breweries by zip code. The next time your sweetheart is planning a romantic weekend getaway, use the virtual beer tour to help make the weekend more palatable to your tastes.
Hard Liquor
My poetic license only covers beer and wine. Hard Liquor fans might want to check out some of the following links:
Whisky Web - All that most people have ever wanted to know about Scotch whiskys.
The Whisky Pages - More whisky information. Not so Scottscentric.
Jack Daniels - Take an online tour of the Jack Daniels distillery. The tour is best taken if you're at work, and the afternoon is dragging.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Stop drinking all the mixers and go get yourself a glass of tap water. And no, the lemon twists aren't for you either.
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Beverages 
