# ALCOHOL **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323 "2000-03-04T03:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f17d59/32.png) [@kaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaos)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/1 "2000-03-04T03:59:00Z")
Hello Cecil, Well, here is my question. What exactly does alcohol do to your brain to make you drunk? I know a little about it, like it blocks the nerve receptors a little, but i want deatils, so please fill me in! * * * “Justify those who die” -Zach De LaRoca ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/2 "2000-03-04T05:14:00Z")
[ALCOHOL & THE BRAIN](http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~acw/neuro.htm) Scroll down to **Alcohol and the brain.** [Action of Alcohol in the Brain](http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n08/doencas/drugs/alcool_i.htm) Something to start you out with. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/3 "2000-03-04T11:13:00Z")
Use the fucking search engine you lazy bastard. So what does alcool do then? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/4 "2000-03-04T12:49:00Z")
Android! Holy smokes! Zette * * * “If I had to live your life, I’d be begging to have someone pop out both my eyes. Just in case I came across a mirror.” - android209 (in the Pit) [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) Voted “Most Empathetic”- can you believe that? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/5 "2000-03-04T15:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Holy smokes! Sounds like a tag-line for God’s cigarettes. “Holy Smokes! Try _Elysium_, the Heavenly Smoke!” ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/6 "2000-03-04T19:02:00Z")
**Android** , come on. We’re all for flaming someone who can’t or doesn’t use Yahoo, but let’s use a match and not a thermonuclear device, OK? Use the wit on the merely ignorant (whom we can help) and save the profanity for the trolls (whom we can only hope to eliminate). * * * [Change Your Password, Please](http://204.95.48.199/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ubbmisc.cgi?action=getannounce&ForumNumber=3&Start=2451545.99&End=2451911&Session=2451598.1854) and don’t use HTML, as it has been disabled ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/7 "2000-03-04T20:14:00Z")
Don’t mess with Mister Bee-Double Oh-Zee-Ee. * * * “Age is mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” -Leroy “Satchel” Paige ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/8 "2000-03-04T20:18:00Z")
Oops. Kaos, I unreservedly apologise. And to the rest of you. Sorry, I was hoofed. Hey, it’d been a long party, what can I say. Soory. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/9 "2000-03-04T20:28:00Z")
Ah, I see now. You were just answering the OP. 😉 * * * [Change Your Password, Please](http://204.95.48.199/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ubbmisc.cgi?action=getannounce&ForumNumber=3&Start=2451545.99&End=2451911&Session=2451598.1854) and don’t use HTML, as it has been disabled ---
**Author:** ![kaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f17d59/32.png) [@kaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaos)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/10 "2000-03-05T01:04:00Z")
Well, thank you Kat, but as for the rest of you bumdarts (android) I thought this was a help thing where I can get questions answered from other people instead of the serach engines (which i hate by the way). And another thing, please don;t use this as a chat bored, if u want to chat, use icq! (my # is 22388781) Anyways, thank you Kat, and keep up the good work. * * * “Justify those who die” -Zach De LaRoca ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/11 "2000-03-05T02:08:00Z")
Um, kaos, just so you know, you aren’t God. Nor are you one of his prophets. Anyway, links have been provided for you, so there you go. Oh, and Cecil doesn’t come in here too often, but when he does, he causes waves, like a boulder hitting a poodle. It disrupts the board (we get all excited). As for how alcohol affects the brain, well, there’s an experiment in progress. _chug chug chug_ ahh! * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/12 "2000-03-05T02:38:00Z")
Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker -Nash ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/13 "2000-03-05T02:43:00Z")
kaos, don’t be a jerk. Android apologized. * * * Voted as: **The poster you’d most like to meet.** I demand a recount. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/14 "2000-03-05T03:53:00Z")
kaos, two posts and you’re already telling us how to interact? A few pointers, ol’ pal: 1. The SDMB is a community, and if we want to make an attempt at a witty comment on it, no one here has a problem with it. It’s the nature of this board. 2. “u” is not an acceptible abbreviation for “you”. Many people here do not tolerate laziness, and expect people to be intelligent and literate enough to be able to spell out what they want to say. Granted some acronyms are allowed and used quite a bit. (Such as BTW, IIRC, and WAG.) But this is to cut down on very long and frequently used phrases. “You” is only 3 letters. I think you can handle it. 3. It takes a big person to apologise for a wrong. It also takes a big person to forgive and forget. Be bigger. 4. If you absolutely _must_ attack a person, The BBQ Pit is the appropriate forum. The members here do not take kindly to flaming in the other boards. 5. Lastly, (and in keeping with what I said previously about laziness) a topic such as the physiological effects of alcohol consumption has a lot written about it. What’s more, it is something that we have all had covered in high school health class. In short, make an effort to find info yourself. If there’s info you’re having a hard time finding, or have a question about the info that is available, _then_ come here. Welcome aboard. And remember the number one rule. “Don’t be a jerk.” * * * _Now with 1000 posts of pure wisdom!_ (or something) ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/15 "2000-03-05T10:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by kaos: > I thought this was a help thing where I can get questions answered from other people instead of the serach engines (which i hate by the way I still feel apologetic, I went over the top, but this place is absolutely not a surrogate search engine. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/16 "2000-03-05T12:32:00Z")
Andy, you now have my blessing to flame away! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/17 "2000-03-05T12:48:00Z")
Onto the topic. I do find it interesting that with how entrenched alcohol has been for millenia in the human condition, that to this day we really don’t know how alcohol truely effects the brain. We have mastered many of the complex boilogical conditions, along with impressive technological advances, but this one specific has eluded us. I conceed to not being acquainted with to many specifics, but a friend who was began discussing that scientists had recently (in the last 2-3 years) uncovered many of the fundamentals of how alcohol effects the brain. It shocks me that the actions of many of the potent street narcotics are seemingly well understood, but the granddaddy of all drugs was still a mystery. Not really an answer, but I suspect that while we are beginning to understand the factors in consideration, no one can completely and confidently answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/18 "2000-03-05T16:51:00Z")
The reason most drugs are better understood than alcohol is that, for the most part, they’re pretty straightforward. That is, they go and directly effect tthe brain or the thalamus or whatever. Alcohol is different in that, last I heard, the ethanol is first digested and made into another chemical, and then that chemical coats the neurons, but, for some reason, only in certain areas of the brain (noteably speech and locomotion) and has a plethora of other effects. Marijuana is comparatively pretty simple, ie the THC attaches to receptors and the drug dehydrates you. Make it more clear why alcohol is not so understood? * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![kaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f17d59/32.png) [@kaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaos)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/19 "2000-03-06T01:51:00Z")
Alright, i am sorry everyone. I thought these questions went to cecil, explaining my titleing to him. I am sorry for yelling at others, when this is my first time on. Please, forgive me and i will try and ask other questions, and be a positive influence to this board. Sorry again! ---
**Author:** ![kaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f17d59/32.png) [@kaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaos)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323/20 "2000-03-06T01:54:00Z")
Alright, i am sorry everyone. I thought these questions went to cecil, explaining my titleing to him. I am sorry for yelling at others, when this is my first time on. Please, forgive me and i will try and ask other questions, and be a positive influence to this board. Sorry again! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol/8323.md?page=2)