Drug Science Explains: Is Alcohol A Drug?
By Hannah Barnett
MYTH: Alcohol isn’t a drug.
VERDICT: FALSE. Alcohol is a psychoactive drug and a central nervous system depressant.
Firstly, what actually counts as a drug?
The definition of a drug varies depending on who you ask. For many people, drugs refer to medicines prescribed by doctors or illicit substances such as heroin. Our understanding of what counts as a drug is largely shaped by social and cultural influences, including their portrayal in the media, their legal status, public health messaging, and the attitudes and behaviours we encounter in everyday life.
The scientific definition of a drug is much broader than people realise. Broadly speaking, drugs are substances that, when introduced to the body, alters how the body or mind functions. This includes prescription medicines, illicit substances, and everyday substances such as caffeine and alcohol. As such, we often do not realise how frequently we consume drugs in our day-to-day lives.
Does that make alcohol a drug?
Considering alcohol’s profound effects on our body and mind, alcohol clearly meets the definition of a drug. In fact, alcohol is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world.
Alcohol is classified as a depressant drug, which means that it slows down our central nervous system and the communication between our brain and body. This can alter behaviour, perception, and bodily coordination.
What does alcohol do to the brain and body?
Alcohol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream following ingestion. Approximately 80% is absorbed through the small intestine, and the remaining 20% is absorbed through the stomach. The liver processes most of the alcohol that enters the body, and takes roughly one hour to break down one unit of alcohol (although this varies across individuals). This is why alcohol can remain in the bloodstream the morning after drinking, even when someone no longer feels intoxicated. There is no way to increase the speed at which alcohol leaves the body once it is ingested.
Physically, alcohol widens the blood vessels in the bloodstream, which can lead to bodily effects including heat loss, blushing, and drops in blood pressure. Alcohol directly alters several systems in the brain that can initially produce feelings of relaxation and pleasure. However, increasing the consumption of alcohol progressively impairs judgement, memory, coordination, and vision.
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Is alcohol addictive?
Yes, alcohol is both physically and psychologically addictive. Like many other drugs, it can cause tolerance, dependence and withdrawal.
Alcohol simultaneously boosts the chemicals that calm the brain and blocks the chemicals that excite it. With increasing alcohol consumption, the brain begins to adjust to these changes by reducing its own natural production of these substances, which eventually rewires our ability to handle reward, stress, and self-control.
Some people develop tolerance to alcohol with repeated consumption, which means that they need increasing amounts to experience the same effects. Over time, regular drinking can also lead to physical dependence and produce shaking, nausea, anxiety, and sweating once consumption decreases. Severe alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and can be life-threatening. People who may be physically dependent on alcohol are advised to seek medical guidance before stopping abruptly.
Beyond its immediate effects, alcohol use is associated with several long-term health risks, including liver disease, cardiovascular problems and several cancers. These risks can occur even at seemingly low levels of consumption, although the likelihood and severity of harm generally increase with greater exposure.
Both genetic and environmental factors can cause or contribute to an increased risk of alcohol use disorder. A family history of alcohol-related problems can increase a person’s biological vulnerability, as can early alcohol use, trauma, mental health difficulties and patterns of heavy drinking.
If alcohol is a drug, why don't we usually think of it as one?
Despite its effects on the brain and body, and its potential to cause dependence, alcohol is rarely perceived in the same way as other drugs. Why is that?
Our understanding of what constitutes a drug is shaped by a range of historical, cultural, social, and political influences. These factors affect which substances we perceive as drugs, which we consider socially acceptable, and how we understand their potential risks.
Alcohol has been produced and consumed for thousands of years across different societies, religions, and cultures. This long history has helped establish alcohol as a commonplace feature of life in many societies, well before the introduction of modern drug laws and regulations.
However, its widespread acceptance in Western societies cannot be explained by its long history alone. Many Indigenous communities have similarly long histories of using other psychoactive substances for medicinal, spiritual, and ceremonial purposes, such as the use of peyote by some Indigenous communities in North America. Yet these practices and substances have often been stigmatised or criminalised, particularly under colonial systems of governance. This contrast highlights how perceptions of drugs have been shaped not simply by their effects or historical use, but also by cultural and political power, and whose traditions have been legitimised.
Today, alcohol's social acceptance is reinforced by its legal status, widespread availability, and commercial promotion. In many countries, alcohol can be readily purchased in supermarkets, restaurants, and bars, while governments collect substantial tax revenues from its sale. The alcohol industry also plays a significant role in reinforcing its cultural position, frequently portraying drinking as an enjoyable and celebrated part of everyday life.
These attitudes are also reflected in the language we use. Media, education, and public health messaging frequently distinguish alcohol from other substances through phrases such as "drugs and alcohol". This separation both reflects and reinforces the perception that alcohol belongs in a different category from substances commonly labelled as 'drugs', potentially obscuring the risks associated with its consumption.
Ultimately, a substance's social acceptability and legal status do not necessarily reflect its potential for harm. Alcohol may be legal, familiar, and deeply embedded in our culture, but that does not make it any less of a drug.
If you or a loved one may be suffering from alcohol use disorder, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/ for guidance and treatment options.