This is why you feel more drunk on a plane

There are many reasons why drinking on a plane seems 10 times more fun than it does at sea level. There’s the fact that you’re on the move – going on holiday, travelling, exploring, reconnecting with family – that naturally makes you feel excited. When you’re travelling with friends you can get swept up in the celebratory mood, wanting to start the party as soon as possible and make the most of every second of your holiday. There’s also, more simply, the fact that it’s a change of scene – you’re not sitting at home in front of the TV, you’re not in your local pub, you’re cruising at 38,000 feet sipping your favourite drink among the clouds. But beyond the desire to pour a drink after takeoff, is there any truth in the fact that drinking on a plane gets you more drunk? Or does it just make you feel more drunk than you would with your feet on terra firma? Below, we chat to Jo Woodhurst, nutritionist and head of nutrition at Ancient and Brave, to get to the bottom of whether drinking on a plane makes you feel more drunk.

What actually happens to you when you drink alcohol?

Before we delve into drinking on planes, let's take a look at what actually happens to your body and mind when you’re sipping an alcoholic drink. “When you drink alcohol, rather than digest it like you would other food or drinks, alcohol is absorbed through the stomach lining and small intestine and goes straight into your bloodstream,” explains Jo. “Because your blood circulates the whole body, alcohol can have an effect across all systems (the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and, of course, the liver). The liver has a crucial role in filtering, converting toxins, cleansing the blood and metabolising some nutrients – but because alcohol contains some harmful toxins, the liver must prioritise this over other jobs.”

In more practical terms, this means that alcohol has different effects in different areas of your body. While the liver is focusing on detoxification, it “pauses on production of glucose, meaning that drinking alcohol also affects your blood sugar levels”. In other areas, such as your stomach, large quantities of alcohol can “suppress appetites as it dulls the hunger signals” as well as affecting “metabolism and digestive function”; in the kidneys, it “affects the brain’s production of antidiuretic hormones and so will increase urine production”. In the brain, it “has several effects such as lessening inhibitions, affecting your mood (for some it can make you feel happy, but others it makes them feel down or aggressive), co-ordination, vision and speech. It does this by slowing down your brain and altering levels of neurotransmitters”. All of this comes together to create the general effect of feeling drunk, slowing down movement while your body puts all its energy into handling these varying effects.

Is there any truth in the statement that you can get more drunk on a plane?

For decades, there has been a culture of drinking on planes. This is largely due to the fact that air travel began as a luxury; a way for wealthy people to travel and mark the occasion in style. Today, drinking culture is much less revered, and more often than not the idea of drinking on planes evokes images of rowdy stag dos or over zealous hen parties. But is the belief that you can get more drunk on planes true?

“In all honesty there’s not much research on this question,” Jo admits. “There is one study from the 1930s which concludes that alcohol does affect people differently at higher altitudes to lower, however more recent studies concluded that there was ‘no difference’ in terms of blood-alcohol content at high altitudes.”

Can you get drunk faster on a plane?

Theories about whether or not you can get more drunk on a plane also go hand in hand with the belief that you can get drunk more quickly when you’re airborne. “This theory is more about the effect of oxygen on our system, rather than the alcohol being more potent or your body having more difficulty with it,” Jo explains. “Whether or not you’re in an aeroplane, alcohol can disrupt the absorption of oxygen in the bloodstream. Therefore, being at a higher altitude, coupled with this effect on your blood oxygen, may make you feel more tipsy – think dizzy, light headed, or even nauseous.” This explains why people tend to get more boisterous more quickly on planes – they feel drunk more quickly and therefore begin acting inebriated earlier than they would typically do.

Top tips for drinking responsibility on planes

Below, Jo gives us some guidelines on how to make sure you’re looking after yourself when drinking while travelling.

• “It’s about understanding your poison and making smart, informed choices. Building a healthy relationship with alcohol means ensuring you don’t drink too much, too often and you think about the quality of what you are drinking (and mixing your drinks with).”
• “Putting limits on drinking may be helpful (we can metabolise about one drink an hour so go slow) and making sure you match your alcoholic beverage with water and some electrolytes may help to prevent dehydration.”
• “Eating food before or with an alcoholic drink is also a great way to slow you down and may also lower the blood alcohol concentration. Drinking on an empty stomach means the alcohol enters your small intestine quicker which is where it can be absorbed the quickest so not the best idea.”
• “Types of alcohol, and quality, do seem to make a difference for some people. Mezcal, vodka, or tequila, are generally lower in sugar and are touted as a ‘cleaner’ alcohol, while red wine has also been linked to some health benefits (when used in moderation alongside a healthy diet and healthy social life). Biodynamic or ‘natural’ wines also don’t come with sulphites and aren’t treated with pesticides or chemicals which may affect your hangover. These types of alcohol may be difficult to find on a plane though!”

Overall, the best advice on drinking responsibly is to understand your own limits and act accordingly. Make sure you’re being sensible and don’t let yourself get swept up in excitement.

Some people drink to calm nerves or help sleep on planes – can this help?

“What is more important is figuring out what can actually help nerves – and there are much better alternatives to booze,” Jo tells us. “While it may initially feel like you're more relaxed after drinking alcohol, this effect can wear off and in fact, in terms of anxiety, make things worse.

“Alcohol slows down your central nervous system and brain, and it also increases the levels of serotonin or ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters, which initially leads to feelings of relaxation and social lubrication,” she continues. “However, once it leaves your system you can feel more panicky. Essentially your brain is trying to rebalance neurotransmitters back to their normal levels which can cause a dip in dopamine and that classic ‘hangxiety’ feeling. One drink isn’t necessarily going to make you feel terrible, but drinking solely for this reason alone may not be advisable as you are likely to reach for another glass once the effects start to wear off.”

There are plenty of alcohol-free alternatives to soothing nerves and travel anxiety. “Ashwagandha is a great adaptogen for calming and reducing cortisol in the body,” Jo recommends. “Other herbs such as passionflower, chamomile, and lavender have long been used for anxiety and relaxation – you can have these as a supplement, herbal tea or even essential oils. You can also download a meditation specifically for sleep or reducing anxiety or try tapping therapy (an alternative treatment where you tap on the 12 meridian points for emotional distress) which can be incredibly effective.”

Are there any other consequences to getting drunk on a plane?

“The main issues are with the side effects of drinking in general, coupled with some of the side effects of flying,” says Jo. “For example, travelling by air is a dehydrating experience, and so is drinking alcohol, so you are even more likely to suffer the effects of dehydration. As well as affecting your skin, brain and digestive system, dehydration also has an impact on our immune system – and both alcohol and flying in general can be an onslaught on our immune system thanks to being in such close proximity to so many people and the dehydrating air conditioning.”

Plus, drinking alcohol on a flight can potentially have more consequences than simply the physical effect on your body. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, “disruptive passenger behaviour is one of the main reasons for aircraft diversions” and can “affect your safety and the safety of fellow passengers”. Plus, passengers can face civil prosecution if they display any disruptive or unacceptable behaviour, including refusal to adhere to safety checks or instructions, abusive language, or excessive intoxication. Prosecution could involve fines (maximum fine is £5,000) or imprisonment (maximum sentencing is five years) and, according to the CAA, “disruptive passengers may also be asked to reimburse the airline with the cost of the diversion, which typically range from £10,000 to £80,000 depending on the size of the aircraft and where it diverts to”.

Overall, “although there may be ways of enjoying an alcoholic drink in a balanced and safe way, getting drunk may not be the best idea when mid-air, travelling to a different country where you may need to make some important and quick decisions and be aware of your surroundings,” says Jo. Drink responsibly, and visit drinkaware.co.uk for advice and support.