# Beer drinking **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335 "2000-08-14T18:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyboyslc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Flyboyslc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyboyslc)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335/1 "2000-08-14T18:52:34Z")
OK; let’s see how this gets answered . . . When I was growing up, and later in the military, the idea was that drinking beer (or any alcoholic beverage) through a straw would get you drunk faster. I’ve field tested this theory, and it seems to be true. 🙂 Now, the real question: Can anyone tell me WHY this is true? Or, I suppose, tell me that it isn’t true, and why . . . ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335/2 "2000-08-14T19:01:24Z")
My theory has been this: - Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach, as well as farther down the line. - Carbonation is known to increase the rate of absorption. Consider champagne versus straight whiskey. Whiskey packs one hell of a wallop, but if you drink it fast it’ll sneak up on you. With champagne, on the other hand, a glass or two will let you know what you’re getting into. - Drinking through a straw doesn’t allow the beer to fizz up as it would when sloshing it down your gullet through a bottle or can. So there’s more carbonation in the stomach, which pushes alcohol into the bloodstream faster than it normally would. - Goggles on, engage. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335/3 "2000-08-14T19:33:05Z")
WAG for the body to absorb the alchohol the beer must be above a certain temperature. By drinking in gulps this has the effect of keeping the beer too cool for this but when you use a straw it warms up before it hits the stomach, hence you get drunk sooner. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335/4 "2000-08-14T21:52:01Z")
I thought it was because when you drink out of a straw you’re taking in less air than when you sip from the rim of the mug/bottle/can/trough. This may be similar in theory to **SofaKing** ’s theory. Something tells me I’ve read this somewhere. Air circulating around and through the alcohol doesn’t allow for absorption as rapid as straight through a straw, which creates a sort of vacuum. ---
**Author:** ![DarkHeart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@DarkHeart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkHeart)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335/5 "2000-08-14T22:00:22Z")
Sofa King hit it right on the head. Tried it with guinness and no difference. tried it with red dog=buzz from hell. ---
**Author:** ![Flyboyslc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Flyboyslc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyboyslc)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinking/29335/6 "2000-08-14T22:13:13Z")
Guiness? Urg. Bought a six-pack of Guiness extra stout, and it lasted me for 6 months; like drinking liquid ear-wax. No wonder they call it ‘bitter’. I suppose Sofa king’s theory would also make a difference when I drink beer from the can/bottle, and when I have a glassful and drink it straight, then . . . no wonder I like drinking from a mug better . . . .