Drinking Contest: Any Support From the Books?

[Ainaserkewen]

as it portrays Legolas as having no concept of the enjoyment of alcohol (poor dear).

Yes, but wasn't it delightfully silly when he says his fingers are tingling, almost as if he's making fun of the whole event?

And another thing, is it just me or was PJ much more fond of Elves than Dwarves ("That still only counts as one").

I wouldn't say "more fond of". A lot of people seemed to like the up-played rivalry between those two and the fact that Gimli seemed to take it more seriously. Legolas's character wouldn't work as the guy who's secretly jealous and always wants to get the upper hand. Gimli only loses once really in the movies with the infamous drinking screne and he initiated it, he wanted to prove that he was better than Legolas at something. In the movies they never tell you who won the orc killing contest but the books have Gimli win by one and that further developes the relationship between the Dwarf and the Elf.