But there is something called the motivational model of alcohol use that argues we drink because we expect a change in how we feel after we do. Originally developed to help treat alcohol dependence, the ideas described in the model led to a new understanding of what motivates people to drink. This all-too-common phenomenon was clearly illustrated by psychology professor Kim Fromme, PhD, who had a group of moms visit her "simulated bar laboratory" and drink as much as they wanted for a i love being drunk few hours. Fromme, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, found that many of the subjects believed they were "OK to drive," even after consuming several drinks. After imbibing, the subjects expressed shock at how miserably they failed a simple balance test that required them to walk in a straight line. And no matter what “type of drunk” you are, if you find yourself drinking frequently and struggling to control your consumption, it may be a sign that it’s time to cut back.

Reducing drinking, or even eliminating it altogether, can lower a person’s risk of these conditions and complications. Your body functions will slow so much that you will fall into a coma, putting you at risk of death. The important thing is that we understand our relationship with alcohol, realize where it may not be serving us, and make informed decisions about its presence in our lives. For example, mothers, a frequently targeted group for marketing all products, are now encouraged to share their love for alcohol on t-shirts, mugs, and even children’s clothing.

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But although under the influence you may well act differently, that in itself doesn’t mean that drinking reveals—or can reveal—who you actually are. It can’t be overemphasized that this chemical explanation doesn’t imply that such negative thoughts and feelings didn’t already exist within you, but simply that you knew better than to give voice to them. Before becoming so neurologically unconstrained by drink, such sentiments would have been checked. Drunk, they become emboldened—now with an autonomous, and possibly outrageous, voice of their own. This alcohol evaporates from your blood through your lungs and moves into your breath. This is why you smell like a brewery after a night of drinking.

So, next time you’re advised to “drink responsibly”, at least now you have an idea of how to do that. Someone’s sitting on a step crying over some possibly-imagined slight. Steer clear of situations and people that trouble you when sober. If your girlfriend’s one friend has you rolling your eyes during appetizers, don’t go shot-for-shot with them after dessert.

How Does Alcohol Make You Drunk?

Prepare to be carrying these folks into a cab after a night out. Second, those who drink mainly for coping motives have higher levels of neuroticism, low level of agreeableness and a negative view of the self. These drinkers may be using alcohol to cope with other problems in their life, particularly those related to anxiety and depression. Coping drinkers are more likely to be female, drink more heavily and experience more alcohol-related problems than those who drink for other reasons. It’s easy to see alcohol consumption being a result of thousands of years of ritual and a lifetime of habit. But have you ever stopped to consider why it is you choose to drink?

• Originally developed to help treat alcohol dependence, the ideas described in the model led to a new understanding of what motivates people to drink.
• The remarkable side effect of this general dimming is that your thoughts seem amazingly clear – which is nice – while in reality they are just amazingly limited.
• Coping drinkers are more likely to be female, drink more heavily and experience more alcohol-related problems than those who drink for other reasons.
• But have you ever stopped to consider why it is you choose to drink?

Results showed enough escalation in people consuming these drinks to label the beverages a "potential risk" to increased hostility. Your personality can change when you drink due to alcohol’s effects on the brain. When you consume alcohol, it is quickly diffused into your bloodstream, reaching your brain within about five minutes. As your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises, the effects of alcohol on your personality become more pronounced.

Cultural Influences on Drinking

One might say that this person has a “high tolerance” for alcohol. You probably know at least one person who’s intent on screaming “I’m not drunk! “Sloppy drunks” tend to overdo the alcohol, leading them to appear disheveled and engage in embarrassing behavior while drunk.

Decreased cognitive function also means it's more likely for you to misread a situation and overreact. For example, if you're intoxicated, you might perceive someone bumping into you by accident as a provocation and respond aggressively. That aspect seems to stem from the fact that alcohol increases activity in the dopamine neurons in the mesolimbic reward pathway, as well as opioid cells that release endorphins. Both produce feelings of joy, pleasure, euphoria, depending on the type of activation. The mechanisms of alcohol intoxication are quite confusing.

What Does Alcohol Do to Your Brain?

A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit of intoxication in the United States. A person can be arrested if they are found driving with a BAC above this limit. A person is at greater risk of injury when they are tipsy. It can be helpful to know the signs of being drunk so you can avoid possible harm to yourself by continuing to drink. Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.

The rest of it gets in your bloodstream via your small intestine. If you want to get a little more technical, ethanol is formed when yeast ferments the sugars in plants. For instance, beer is made from the sugars in malted barley, wine from the sugars in grapes, and vodka from the sugars in potatoes.