# Drinking causes nicotine craving? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761 "2003-06-18T18:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/1 "2003-06-18T18:48:49Z")
Personal: I smoke around 1/2 a pack a day on weekdays. When Friday rolls around and drinking time comes along watch out. I have easily gone through 2 packs in an _evening_. I have no idea why. I find myself rationing out cigarettes (1 every 2 drinks) so that don’t feel like pure crap the next day, and that’s hard. Observed: Many of my casual smoking friends are the same way. People who don’t finish a pack during the week will kill a pack out at a bar. Also, people who almost never smoke or have quit will crave a cigarette when they get very drunk. I don’t think it’s a cigarette thing either because a couple of my friends will start to dip (ugh) after a few drinks, which leads me to believe it’s the nicotine, not the act of holding and puffing a cigarette. Why? Sometimes if I go a long time without a cigarette (all day meeting) and then have one I think to myself: “Self, that was pretty good. How about another?” and I’ll smoke it halfway through and put it out because it’s just . . . too much. You guys get the point and have probably observed or experienced the same thing. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/2 "2003-06-18T18:58:55Z")
I’ve observed this as well, though I don’t smoke. In general, alcohol often causes cravings of various sorts. Alcohol both reduces impulse control, and affects the dopamine system in the brain. The dopamine circuit is thought to play a major role in behavior reinforcement. Therefore, my guess is that alcohol tends to induce a craving for cigarettes, and the fact that people are more impulsive when drinking leads to more smoking. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/3 "2003-06-18T19:15:14Z")
First off let me say yesterday was my 8 Month Anniversary without cigs. [Pats self on back] These are my theories (No scientific back up provided): 1. Association has a lot to do with smoking as well. I am guessing that you can’t smoke at work but can in bars. When you go out on the weekend and have a drink and light up a cig they start to go hand in hand. Since you can, you do. 2. Alcohol numbs you so you don’t feel the effect it has on your lungs unitl the next day. My lungs always hurt after a night of drinking and smoking. 3. You become less inhibited when drinkinhg so you don’t feel guilty having a cig every 20-30 mins instead of every hour. 4. You see others smoking and it triggers your brain to want a cig as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/4 "2003-06-18T19:41:42Z")
I don’t think 1. and 4. are applicable, **NYR407** , because the same thing happens if I drink at home. 2. makes sense but why would I want to smoke more? The reaction I have during a normal day to smoking 2 in a row (as mentioned above) is negative, and not because my lungs hurt. I just. . . don’t want it, as if my body/brain thinks that the level of nicotine in the bloodstream is sufficient. Same with 3., I couldn’t care less if I chain smoked during the day, I just don’t want to. And kudos on quitting. Quitter! I think **occ** might be on the right track. Alcohol is a depressant so maybe the brain craves a stimulant (nicotine). But that doesn’t explain why I want more drinks! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/5 "2003-06-18T20:43:28Z")
I quit smoking in December. On one of the websites I checked for tips, it said not to drink because alcohol is a diuretic, and nicotine is an antidiuretic, so drinking would make you crave a cigarette… ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/6 "2003-06-18T21:40:15Z")
I may be saying the same thing horhay is saying, but I’m not sure . . . No cite, but I’ve read somewhere that the process of making urine removes nicotine from your system (makes sense). Drinking (especially alcohol) causes you to make urine. This is essentially the same reason why you want a smoke after eating: eating causes the body to make urine. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/7 "2003-06-18T21:58:29Z")
Horhay and TaxGuy, that doesn’t make sense to me. Urine removes all kinds of toxic stuff from your body, but taking a diuretic doesn’t make me crave poison. I think it must be a learned association. However, I don’t know for sure - although I drink, I don’t have any desire to smoke. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/8 "2003-06-18T23:12:37Z")
I think it is most likely because alcohol and nicotine both affect dopamine in the brain, specifically in the [nucleas accumbens](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-03/ace-aan030602.php). Dopamine is the chemical related to most (perhaps all) addictions and pleasure-seeking behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-causes-nicotine-craving-why/182761/9 "2003-06-18T23:19:27Z")
The interaction of nicotine and alcohol is a known, and studied effect: > [@](#): > > Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking often go hand in hand. > > - A rodent study has found that low doses of alcohol and nicotine can have an additive effect on the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. > - A related study has found that a nicotine blocker called mecamylamine can reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol in humans. > - The two studies collectively suggest that nicotinic mechanisms are involved in alcohol consumption. > **[Alcohol and nicotine: A deadly duo](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/641702)** > > Highlights include, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking often go hand in hand, a rodent study has found that low doses of alcohol and nicotine can have an additive effect on the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, > a related study has...