1844 upvotes, 42 direct replies (showing 25)
View submission: Why do I only get tipsy at restaurants?
Former neuroscientist published in the field of psychopharmacology here! This is one of the more fascinating phenomena I learned about in school. The reason why that happens is the lack of “compensatory cues” in a new environment that trigger the process of metabolizing alcohol. If you have a place you that normally drink, such as your friends house, a local bar, a certain room in your house, etc. You will not get as drunk in those places as you would in a novel (new) environment.
Our brains are constantly taking in information about our environment that have more significant impacts on biological processes than most people think. When you go to a place that you drink often, the sights, smells, atmosphere, sounds, taste of your “regular” drink, etc. are noted as a place your body should begin metabolizing alcohol. It starts the actual metabolization process before you even take your first sip due to recognition of that environment associated with alcohol consumption.
When you go to a completely new place with none of those environmental “compensatory cues,” your body has not started the metabolization process prior to your first drink, and thusly, you are “behind” in terms of metabolizing it. The drinks in the new place hit you faster and it takes less of them to get drunk compared to your normal drinking environments.
In addition to this, if you are a heavy drinker at one of your “regular” drinking spots, you will actually start to feel a little antsy, and get an almost pre-hangover type feeling if you wait too long to start drinking. This is because your body is trying to process the alcohol and those hangovery enzymes/metabolites begin to build up because you haven’t given your body any alcohol to process yet. Psychologically your brain is preparing to enter an altered state of depressed parasympathetic nervous system activity, and to compensate for that, it triggers activation of that system which is where anxiety comes from.
Science rules.
Comment by Sarynn_Art at 30/08/2024 at 22:57 UTC
205 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is SO COOL. Thanks for sharing
Comment by flyingbootable at 30/08/2024 at 23:35 UTC
128 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This same response/feedback loop can be responsible for drug overdoses when a heavy user takes their normal dose of hard drugs in an unfamiliar situation.
Comment by ARoundForEveryone at 31/08/2024 at 00:49 UTC
60 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Recovering alcoholic chiming in. This is spot on. How scientifically accurate the reasoning is, I dunno. But the effects felt and the timeline, absolutely accurate.
I can absolutely go faster and harder on the booze at home than I can at a restaurant, bar, or friend's house.
Comment by begentlewithme at 30/08/2024 at 23:48 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Would that same phenomenon occur if say... a friend moves to a new house, and we drink there?
Comment by [deleted] at 31/08/2024 at 00:11 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by m0rp at 31/08/2024 at 00:46 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The dangerous part to this is for people who use opiate substances. A similar dose in their regular spot. Might end in an overdose in a new environmental context.
Comment by Reynk at 31/08/2024 at 09:56 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Id love to see a related source or even your own paper on this. Can you please provide that? Nowadays I try to be more skeptical and not trust a reply just because it sounds correct lol.
Comment by AbsMcLargehuge at 31/08/2024 at 01:13 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
So if an alcoholic were to go cold turkey, would the side affects be less pronounced if they were in an unfamiliar setting?
Comment by Dr_momo at 31/08/2024 at 04:15 UTC
6 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I have a question: why does the body require environmental cues to trigger the response rather than responding to the conscious intent to go for a drink?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge here.
Comment by c-dy at 31/08/2024 at 01:07 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I guess, people also experience the triggering of such cues when they holding their bladder becomes more difficult once they return home?
Comment by MrdrOfCrws at 31/08/2024 at 01:31 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Well that's neat.
Comment by _psykovsky_ at 31/08/2024 at 00:30 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is a fantastic answer! Thanks for sharing.
Comment by FollowYerLeader at 31/08/2024 at 01:02 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If you kick start the process by having a drink at home first so your body starts metabolizing, you wouldn't get as buzzed at the restaurant if you had another drink because your body is already in motion for processing the alcohol? In other words, is pre-funking the key to not getting too wasted when going out?
Comment by GimmeFalcor at 31/08/2024 at 01:15 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This explains so much for me. Thank you.
Comment by Savagedood at 31/08/2024 at 01:30 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is very interesting. I’m pretty sure I just experienced this phenomenon yesterday 🧐 Sat at the bar in a popular restaurant. Only had two drinks but definitely felt it more than I thought I would!
Comment by El_Paco at 31/08/2024 at 01:40 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Would something similar also apply to smoking weed? When I'm at home, I can smoke a bunch and feel fine, but if I'm at a new place and I smoke, I feel much more stoned off a smaller amount
Comment by AllAboutMeMedia at 31/08/2024 at 03:18 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I low key hate this, but my body is saying let's go....
Comment by mayan_monkey at 31/08/2024 at 03:24 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is what I wanted to comment, not as eloquently, but did not have the energy to lol. Thank you for doing this.
Comment by 2007pearce at 31/08/2024 at 04:03 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thanks for the great breakdown. I definitely figured this out years ago with weed... As soon as I'm in a new place I get way more affected
Comment by MrTorben at 31/08/2024 at 04:09 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Fascinating!!!!
Comment by Nieros at 31/08/2024 at 04:17 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Have you ever seen evidence of people exhibiting the opposite effect?
Comment by guppyfresh at 31/08/2024 at 04:49 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I wonder if this could somehow be used to get over a hangover. Like go grab a beer out of the fridge, don’t even open it, but my body starts extra metabolizing?
Comment by 5352563424 at 31/08/2024 at 05:10 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'd wager this isn't strictly an alcohol-based effect.
Comment by [deleted] at 31/08/2024 at 06:40 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Science does rule. Thank you!
Comment by iwishiwereyou at 31/08/2024 at 06:41 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I experience kind of the opposite: I can have a drink or two at a bar or restaurant (but never many; I drink much too slowly) and not feel anything. But as soon as I get home, I start to feel tipsy. Why would that be?