Alcohol has both stimulant and depressant effects on the body. When a person drinks a small amount, alcohol stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This dopamine release creates feelings of enjoyment and euphoria, which can be reinforcing and contribute to the giddy or elated feeling often experienced at the start of drinking.

Humans are biologically wired to repeat experiences that feel rewarding, as the brain interprets them as beneficial for survival. This reinforces the desire to drink again.

As alcohol consumption increases, its depressant effects become more pronounced. Alcohol slows the central nervous system (CNS) by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity. This leads to feelings of relaxation, reduced anxiety, sedation, and increased confidence. At the same time, alcohol slows the heart rate and breathing.

Alcohol also reduces overall brain activity and neural functioning. Drinking beyond the body’s tolerance level, or consuming alcohol heavily over long periods, intensifies these depressant effects.

Over time, significant impairment of the central nervous system may result, including:

• Slurred speech

• Poor coordination and unsteady movement

• Slowed reaction times

• Cognitive impairment

• Memory loss

In severe cases, alcohol’s depressant effects can lead to respiratory failure, coma, or death.