Let’s be real. If you’re asking "how do i get drunk," you’re likely looking for the bridge between having a casual drink and feeling that specific physiological shift in your system. It’s a biological process. It isn't magic. It's chemistry. Alcohol, specifically ethanol, is a central nervous system depressant that hitches a ride through your bloodstream to your brain, where it starts messing with your neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamate.
You drink. You feel loose. Maybe you feel a bit dizzy or euphoric. But there is a massive difference between a pleasant buzz and a dangerous level of intoxication that lands you in an ER—or worse.
How Do I Get Drunk? The Biology of BAC
Getting drunk is essentially the process of raising your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) faster than your liver can keep up with. Your liver is a workhorse, but it has limits. Most people can only process about one standard drink per hour. If you consume more than that, the excess alcohol just circulates in your blood. That's when the "drunk" feeling starts.
The speed at which this happens depends on a ridiculous number of variables. It’s not just about how many shots you take. Factors like your biological sex, your weight, and even your hydration levels play a role. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), women generally reach a higher BAC than men after drinking the same amount because they typically have less body water to dilute the alcohol. Muscle holds more water than fat. So, if two people weigh the same but one has a higher body fat percentage, that person will likely get drunker faster.
The Standard Drink Myth
We talk about "a drink" like it’s a universal unit. It isn't. A 12-ounce beer at 5% ABV is one drink. But that 16-ounce craft IPA that’s 9% ABV? That’s basically two and a half drinks in one glass. If you're pouring wine at home, you’re probably pouring way more than the standard 5-ounce serving. This is how people accidentally overdo it. They think they’ve had two glasses of wine, but they’ve actually consumed four standard drinks.
What Actually Happens to Your Brain
When ethanol crosses the blood-brain barrier, it starts a bit of a chaotic dance with your receptors. It mimics GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. This is why you feel relaxed. At the same time, it blocks glutamate, which usually gets things excited. The result? Slower reaction times. Slurred speech. Poor decision-making.
Dr. George Koob, the director of the NIAAA, has spent years researching how alcohol affects the brain's reward system. Initially, it triggers a release of dopamine. You feel great. You're talkative. But as your BAC climbs toward 0.08% (the legal limit in many places), the "depressant" side of the drug takes over. You might start feeling sleepy, clumsy, or emotionally volatile.
The Empty Stomach Factor
Ever noticed how one beer on an empty stomach feels like three? There’s a reason for that. Alcohol isn't digested like food; it’s absorbed. About 20% goes through the stomach lining, and the rest goes through the small intestine. If your stomach is empty, the alcohol reaches the small intestine almost immediately.
Food acts like a physical barrier and slows down "gastric emptying." Eating a protein-rich meal or something with healthy fats before you drink keeps the alcohol in your stomach longer. This gives your body more time to start breaking it down before it hits the bloodstream in full force. It’s the difference between a steady climb and a vertical spike in intoxication.
Hydration and the "Hangover"
Alcohol is a diuretic. It tells your kidneys to get rid of more water than they usually do. This leads to dehydration, which is a major contributor to that pounding headache the next morning. If you're trying to figure out how to get drunk without feeling like death the next day, the "one for one" rule—one glass of water for every alcoholic drink—is basically the gold standard.
Tolerance Isn't a Superpower
People brag about "holding their liquor." Honestly, having a high tolerance is often a red flag. Functional tolerance means your brain has adapted to the presence of alcohol. You might look and act sober at a 0.10% BAC, but your internal organs are still taking the same hit.
✨ Don't miss: Strawberry Shortcake Protein Powder: Why Most Flavors Fail and What to Look For
In fact, high tolerance is one of the primary indicators of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). If you find that you need more and more alcohol to feel the same effect, your brain's chemistry is shifting. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms when you stop, ranging from mild anxiety to life-threatening seizures in severe cases.
The Danger Zone: Alcohol Poisoning and Blackouts
There is a point where "getting drunk" becomes life-threatening. Alcohol poisoning happens when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that areas of the brain controlling basic life functions—like breathing, heart rate, and temperature control—begin to shut down.
Signs of trouble:
- Confusion or stupor.
- Vomiting while unconscious.
- Seizures.
- Slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute).
- Blue-tinged or pale skin.
If you see someone in this state, don't "let them sleep it off." That’s a dangerous myth. Their BAC can continue to rise even after they stop drinking or pass out, because alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream.
✨ Don't miss: Baptist Health Medical Center Little Rock: What Most People Get Wrong
The Science of Blackouts
A blackout isn't passing out. It’s an alcohol-induced amnesia. The hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for forming new memories, essentially goes offline. You’re still awake, you’re still talking, but the "record" button isn't being pressed. This usually happens when BAC rises very quickly, often during binge drinking (defined as 4-5+ drinks in two hours).
Mixing Substances
Mixing alcohol with other things is where things get really unpredictable. Caffeine, for example, masks the depressant effects of alcohol. You might feel "alert," but you are still impaired. This leads to "wide-awake drunk," which often results in people taking more risks because they don't feel as intoxicated as they actually are.
Then there’s the interaction with medications. Mixing alcohol with painkillers or anti-anxiety meds (like benzodiazepines) can be fatal. Both suppress the central nervous system. Combined, they can cause your breathing to stop entirely.
Actionable Steps for Responsible Consumption
If you are going to consume alcohol, doing it with a plan is the only way to stay safe. Knowledge is power here.
- Calculate your "Standard Drinks." Don't count containers; count the ethanol. Use a calculator if you're drinking high-ABV craft beers or cocktails with multiple spirits.
- Eat a full meal beforehand. Focus on proteins and fats. A salad won't cut it. Think a burger, salmon, or even a bowl of pasta.
- Pace yourself. Limit yourself to one standard drink per hour to give your liver a fighting chance to keep up.
- Hydrate aggressively. Drink water before, during, and after. Your future self will thank you.
- Know your limit. If you start feeling "the spins" or lose coordination, your BAC is already in the danger zone. Stop immediately and switch to water.
- Have a safe way home. Alcohol impairs judgment long before you feel "too drunk to drive." If you’ve had anything to drink, use a rideshare or a designated driver.
Understanding how you get drunk isn't just about the "how-to"—it’s about understanding the biological limits of your own body. Alcohol is a powerful drug. Respecting its effects on your chemistry is the difference between a fun night out and a medical emergency.