Why Drinking Alcohol Makes You Sleepy Almost Immediately

Many people enjoy drinking a little alcohol while gathering with friends, watching football games, or summoning up enough liquid courage to sing "Dancing Queen" at karaoke; alcohol plays a huge role in social activities. Alcohol also plays a role when you get home from work as you settle into a nice glass of chardonnay while you fix yourself a healthy dinner.

If you're active while drinking alcohol, you probably won't notice alcohol's sedative effect. However, it's likely more noticeable if you're sitting in a quiet environment. 

Once alcohol reaches your brain, it affects a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that slows down your brain's processing. That's why alcohol relaxes your mind. Alcohol also puts the brakes on an excitatory neurotransmitter called glutamate while tapping the reward centers of your brain.

A drink an hour or two before bed might calm your central nervous system, making it much easier for you to fall asleep quickly. You might also notice how hard you sleep when alcohol is in your system. However, that doesn't mean you're guaranteed a good night's rest.

Even if a glass or two of wine might help you fall into a deep sleep almost immediately, the Sleep Foundation says alcohol will disrupt your overall sleep cycle. The initial crash might make you believe you will sleep better, but you will be missing out on some of your REM sleep while alcohol is still in your system. REM sleep improves your memory and helps regulate your emotions, and a lack of REM sleep can clog your thinking the next day. Once your body metabolizes the alcohol, you'll enter a lighter sleep stage that could have you waking up more often.

Alcohol also disrupts your sleep cycle by inhibiting melatonin production. Melatonin is what signals to your body that it's time to go to sleep, but alcohol blocks the enzyme that helps convert serotonin into melatonin. Not only that, but alcohol interferes with the melatonin receptors in your brain.

However, that doesn't mean you should pop a melatonin gummy while drinking your nightcap. Combining alcohol and melatonin can make you even more drowsy or cause irritability. Alcohol already taxes your liver, and adding a melatonin supplement makes your liver work overtime. This weakens your liver's ability to produce certain enzymes.

Alcohol affects people differently, but two drinks can reduce a man's sleep quality by 24%, according to the Sleep Foundation. Women could experience that same drop in sleep quality with one drink. Also, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to experience sleep problems. It's also dangerous to go to bed drunk because your blood alcohol concentration will continue to rise as your head hits the pillow.

If alcohol makes you feel drowsy, slow down your drinking pace by keeping a glass of water with you. It's also a good idea to give yourself a last call at least three hours before you intend to go to bed. You might need a little more time to metabolize the alcohol if you've had several drinks over a short time or you've drunk on an empty stomach. You should also be aware of how your medications might affect how your body processes alcohol. If you didn't get much sleep the night before, it's best to avoid alcohol altogether.