Eat up and stay hydrated this New Year's Eve, because your night's going to get real wild real fast. That champagne you’re popping will get you drunk much quicker than you could have imagined. Scientists have known since the 1920s (hello Gatsby) that bubbles intoxicate you faster than a flat beverage would, but that's not all. In 2007, scientists showed that drinking vodka mixed with something carbonated spikes your blood alcohol content to a higher level than just vodka. They attributed the spike to the presence of the bubbles. That means that when you down a glass of bubbly, you're going to get drunker way faster than you would with any flat beverage.
This means a few things for your drinking experience. For one, unlike the slow onset of a shot of liquor, you're going to feel the spike quickly and intensely. On the flip side, as you come down, champagne will make you feel the sedative effect quicker as your BAC decreases. A flatter drink makes for a steadier ride, rather than the quick rush of drunkenness followed by a rapid fall that carbonated drinks offer.
Another effect of champagne's spike of intoxication is that, for all the fun it can give you, you're going to have a worse hangover. Because, of course, the higher your BAC, the more alcohol you're absorbing into your bloodstream.
So if you want to party hard and party fast, drink up that champagne and have your wild night. If you want to start your New Year's resolution marathon training on January 1, you may want to stick to the flat stuff. Either way, best to you and your beverage this New Year.
[h/t Quartz]
FAQs
For one, unlike the slow onset of a shot of liquor, you're going to feel the spike quickly and intensely. On the flip side, as you come down, champagne will make you feel the sedative effect quicker as your BAC decreases.
Does champagne get you drunk faster than liquor? ›
Comparatively speaking, you could drink a four-ounce glass of champagne or one shot of liquor, which has the same alcohol content and feel the effects of the champagne much faster and stronger due to the bubbles.
What alcohol gets you drunk fastest? ›
Hard liquors can get you drunk faster than beer or wine, as they have a higher alcohol content. Doing shots can be particularly useful, as you'll be absorbing high alcohol products very fast. Vodka in particular has been shown to increase the speed of intoxication.
How hard is it to get drunk off champagne? ›
The number of glasses it takes to get tipsy or drunk can vary quite a bit from person to person. It depends on factors like your weight, if you've eaten, and your alcohol tolerance. As a rough ballpark, it might take around 3-4 glasses of champagne to start feeling it, and 5+ to get properly sloshed.
Should you drink champagne or hard liquor first? ›
Whether you want to drink wine before or after liquor doesn't make a difference. Mixing the two shouldn't make you sick and they don't interact. So, the famous rhyme that you've heard from others doesn't actually have any scientific basis. The caveat to that is the amount of alcohol you're drinking.
Why does champagne make you drunk quicker? ›
The fizz forces our intestines to absorb the alcoholic contents of the Champagne at a faster rate. This is why Champagne gets you more intoxicated than a glass of flat white wine. Why does the first glass get you drunker? The first glass has more bubbles in it with more intoxicating gas.
Is champagne stronger than liquor? ›
Your glass of champagne may not have a higher alcohol content than liquor-based alcoholic beverages, it's definitely close to where a typical glass of wine may be. That means moderation is important. You may even seek alternatives if you're looking to drink less alcohol.
How many glasses of champagne to get drunk? ›
Being the most celebratory of tipples, Champagne is a must add-on to any milestone event. However, one should consider how many flute turns they are gulping, as a bottle of bubbly can knock you out sooner than you think! On an average, 3 glasses of champagne are enough to get you drunk if you are an adult.
What alcohol has the strongest effect? ›
Highlights: Strongest Liquors In The World
- The world's strongest liquor is Spirytus, with an ABV of 96%
- The second strongest drink in the world is Everclear, with an ABV of 95%
- The third is Sunset Rum which has an impressive ABV of 84.5%
- The fourth strongest alcohol, Balkan 176, has an ABV of 88%
“A single mimosa isn't likely to make you drunk. However, multiple mimosas over a short period of time can definitely create a buzz and depending upon your ability to hold alcohol, it can cause drunkenness.” I googled it honestly, I hope that's helpful if you haven't already googled it yourself.
The amount of alcohol in champagne can vary. But champagne's typical strength means drinking more than four glasses for a woman or six glasses for a man could be classed as 'binge drinking' (more than six units of alcohol for a woman, or eight for a man).
Is champagne stronger than vodka? ›
No. The standard for Vodka is usually about 80 proof or 40% alcohol. For Champagne, it's 24 or so, or 12.2%.
Is champagne bad for the liver? ›
Anyone who drinks alcohol regularly or heavily can damage their liver. The damage can be mild, like simple fatty liver. Or, it can be serious, like alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or both. Mild liver disease, like fatty liver can be reversed completely if a person stops drinking alcohol.
What kind of drunk does champagne give you? ›
Drinking champagne can make you feel euphoric, excited and energetic.
Does champagne give worse hangovers? ›
Peaks and troughs in blood alcohol concentration can wreak havoc on your digestive and endocrine (hormone) systems and this could potentially explain why champagne causes worse hangovers.
