Why Do We Feel Drunk After Drinking Alcohol?

Alcohol is a common part of social gatherings and celebrations, but it comes with a well-known side effect: feeling drunk. This sensation can range from mild relaxation to significant impairment, depending on the amount consumed. But why exactly do we feel drunk after drinking alcohol? Let’s explore the science behind this phenomenon.

How Alcohol Affects the Brain

When you consume alcohol like gin, vodka, or whisky, it quickly enters your bloodstream and makes its way to your brain. Once there, alcohol primarily affects neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit signals in your brain. The two main neurotransmitters impacted by alcohol are GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glutamate.

• Increased GABA Activity: GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and creates a calming effect. Alcohol enhances the effects of GABA, leading to feelings of relaxation, reduced anxiety, and in higher doses, drowsiness and sedation.

• Reduced Glutamate Activity: Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that increases brain activity. Alcohol inhibits the action of glutamate, which leads to slower reflexes, impaired memory, and difficulty thinking clearly.

The combination of increased GABA activity and reduced glutamate activity is what causes the feeling of being drunk. This altered brain function leads to the characteristic symptoms of drunkenness, such as slurred speech, impaired coordination, and altered judgment.

The Role of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

The degree to which you feel drunk is closely related to your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. Several factors can influence your BAC:

• Amount of Alcohol Consumed: The more alcohol you drink, the higher your BAC will be, and the more pronounced the effects on your brain.

• Rate of Consumption: Drinking alcohol quickly can lead to a rapid increase in BAC, which intensifies the feeling of drunkenness. This is because your body needs time to metabolize alcohol, and consuming it faster than your liver can process leads to higher BAC levels.

• Body Weight and Composition: People with lower body weight or higher fat content generally experience higher BAC levels after consuming the same amount of alcohol as someone with more muscle mass.

• Gender: Women tend to have higher BAC levels than men after drinking the same amount of alcohol, partly due to differences in body water content and metabolism.

Why Does Alcohol Make You Feel Euphoric?

One of the reasons people enjoy drinking alcohol is the euphoria it can produce. Alcohol stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This release of dopamine contributes to the initial feelings of happiness and relaxation that many people experience after a drink or two.

However, this euphoria is often short-lived. As BAC continues to rise, the depressant effects of alcohol become more pronounced, leading to impaired judgment, loss of coordination, and eventually, feelings of drowsiness or even nausea.

Tolerance and Sensitivity to Alcohol

Not everyone experiences drunkenness in the same way. Some people have a higher tolerance to alcohol, meaning they need to consume more to feel the same effects. Tolerance can develop over time with regular drinking as the brain adapts to the presence of alcohol.

On the other hand, some people are more sensitive to alcohol and may feel drunk after consuming smaller amounts. This sensitivity can be influenced by genetics, overall health, and even the presence of certain enzymes that metabolize alcohol more efficiently.

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