Getting drunk on an empty stomach is a common experience for many people. The lack of food in your stomach can have a significant impact on how alcohol affects your body and mind. In this article, we’ll explore whether you really do get drunk faster and the science behind it.
Do you absorb alcohol faster on an empty stomach?
Yes, drinking on an empty stomach can make you absorb alcohol much faster compared to drinking after a meal. Here are some key points:
- Your stomach absorbs alcohol quickly. Without food, the alcohol swiftly passes through your stomach and into your small intestine where most of the absorption into your bloodstream occurs.
- Food in your stomach helps slow the rate of absorption. Fatty foods in particular stay in your stomach longer, meaning the alcohol spends more time there before reaching your intestine.
- An estimated 90% or more of alcohol is absorbed through the small intestine. So the faster alcohol reaches it, the quicker your blood alcohol concentration rises.
Overall, having little or no food in your stomach provides less of a barrier to alcohol absorption. Instead of being slowed down by food, it can rapidly enter your bloodstream.
Why does getting drunk happen faster with an empty stomach?
There are a few reasons why your body gets intoxicated more rapidly when drinking on an empty stomach compared to after a meal:
- Faster absorption and rising blood alcohol levels – As mentioned, lack of food allows alcohol to be absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream from the small intestine. This means blood alcohol concentrations spike faster.
- Lack of food dilution – Food helps dilute alcohol in the stomach, while an empty stomach provides no dilution before absorption. Higher concentrations hitting your bloodstream have a stronger intoxicating effect.
- Lower alcohol tolerance – Eating food, especially carbs and proteins, helps slow down the effects of alcohol. Without this buffer, your tolerance is lower.
- Enzyme action – The alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme which breaks down alcohol can’t work as effectively when the stomach is empty compared to when it contains food.
Combined, these effects make it much easier for your blood alcohol content to climb rapidly after drinking on an empty stomach. Your body has less buffer against the alcohol, making you get drunk faster.
How long does it take to get drunk with no food in your stomach?
It depends on a few factors:
- How much alcohol you drink – More alcohol equals faster intoxication.
- Alcohol percentage – Drinks with higher alcohol content affect you quicker.
- Your body size – Smaller people often feel the effects sooner.
- Your metabolism – A faster metabolism can process alcohol faster initially.
- Tolerance levels – People with low tolerance get drunk faster.
As a rough guide, with no food in your stomach you may start to feel buzzed within 10 minutes of your first drink. You could become fully drunk in 30 minutes to 1 hour after 1-3 drinks, but this timeline varies widely.
Does an empty stomach make you get more drunk?
Yes, drinking on an empty stomach can make you get more drunk compared to drinking after eating a meal. Here’s why:
- Your blood alcohol content reaches higher levels faster as the alcohol absorbs rapidly.
- Without food buffering the alcohol, its effects hit you harder.
- Lack of food means your body can’t slow down alcohol absorption as effectively.
- Higher BAC levels translate to greater intoxication before the liver can catch up.
Additionally, an empty stomach can sometimes cause lower alcohol tolerance which also increases feelings of drunkenness. Overall, you’re very likely to get more drunk consuming the same number of drinks without any food in your system.
Does drinking on an empty stomach make you sick?
Drinking alcohol without eating anything first can sometimes lead to feeling sick. Possible issues include:
- Nausea – Alcohol irritation and surging blood alcohol levels can induce nausea and vomiting.
- Stomach irritation – Alcohol can inflame the stomach lining, especially when no food is present.
- Hypoglycemia – Alcohol can cause low blood sugar levels, especially following periods of not eating.
- Gastritis – Inflammation of the stomach wall, which excess alcohol consumption on an empty stomach can trigger.
While not everyone will feel unwell, some people’s stomachs react poorly to alcohol when little or no food is present. Eating some food first provides protection against these adverse effects.
Does drinking on an empty stomach get you drunk faster?
In summary, the answer is yes – having drinks without eating first can definitely get you intoxicated faster compared to having drinks with or after a meal. Here are the key reasons:
- No food means alcohol absorbs rapidly from the small intestine into your bloodstream.
- Your blood alcohol levels spike faster and higher without food diluting the alcohol.
- Lack of food means a lower alcohol tolerance.
- Enzymes can’t break down the alcohol as quickly with an empty stomach.
Combined, these effects mean drinking on an empty stomach typically results in a faster ascent into drunkenness after consuming alcohol. You’ll want to be more careful about moderating your intake when drinking with no food in your system.
Tips for drinking on an empty stomach
If you plan to drink alcohol on an empty stomach, here are some tips to do it more safely:
- Eat some food first – Eating before drinking always helps slow alcohol absorption and reduce intoxication effects.
- Drink water between drinks – Staying hydrated helps dilute the alcohol and offset dehydration effects.
- Drink slowly – Sip drinks at a slow pace to give your body time to process the alcohol.
- Avoid high-alcohol drinks – Stick to beer, wine or drinks with lower alcohol content.
- Pay attention to how you feel – Stop drinking at first signs of nausea, dizziness or excess tipsiness.
Being aware that drinking without eating can increase intoxication will help you be cautious and stay safer if you choose to drink on an empty stomach.
The bottom line
Drinking alcohol without eating food first generally allows the alcohol to be absorbed much faster into your bloodstream. This leads to higher blood alcohol concentrations in a shorter time period. The lack of food dilution, enzyme action, and drop in alcohol tolerance greatly reduce the body’s defenses against acute alcohol intoxication. For these reasons, drinking on an empty stomach can get you drunk considerably faster and more intensely. Moderating intake and staying aware of your limits is especially important in this situation.
| Drinking Situation | Rate of Alcohol Absorption | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking on an empty stomach | Rapid absorption | Get drunk quicker, higher intoxication |
| Drinking after a meal | Slow absorption | Takes longer to get drunk, less intense intoxication |
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – Drinking on an Empty Stomach https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body
- Cleveland Clinic – What Happens When You Drink on an Empty Stomach https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-when-you-drink-alcohol-on-an-empty-stomach/
- ABC Health & Wellbeing – Is it bad to drink alcohol on an empty stomach? https://www.abc.net.au/health/is-it-bad-to-drink-alcohol-on-an-empty-stomach/10284318
- Medical News Today – Drinking on an empty stomach: Effects and risks https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325822