# Odd (harmlessly so) reaction to alcohol **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 25, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500 "2006-12-25T02:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/1 "2006-12-25T02:21:51Z")
Now, I don’t drink that much most of the time. I admit, today I’ve had more than usual. Not quite too much, but not too far from. Christmas and all, ya know? My (now) ex thinks it’s odd that when I have more than a drink or so, I get hungry. I do too, actually; sure I know about the munchies, but I’ve never heard about anybody getting them from good ol’ booze. Right now, I’m eating my second dinner. Granted my first was small, but still, I’m hungry, dammit! Does anybody else experience this, or am I just weird? ---
**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/2 "2006-12-25T02:42:19Z")
This is not odd at all - it is a well-known fact that alcohol is an appetite stimulant. This is why many people enjoy a drink before dinner. Ethanol is also what is known as a “secretagogue” - it stimulates the production of stomach acid. That is why people with gastric ulcers should not drink. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/3 "2006-12-25T03:11:32Z")
Huh. I didn’t know that. Maybe, at least in this, I’m not so weird! ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/4 "2006-12-25T13:05:52Z")
I’m OK with beer or mixers, but wine makes me ravenous! ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/5 "2006-12-25T14:54:56Z")
Alcohol actually makes me hungrier than pot ever did. I’m normally a light eater, but after a few drinks, I’ve been known to scarf down a full pound of bacon, five eggs, and four pieces of toast. Once, after a friend fell asleep on me, I was left with two pounds of bacon and managed to choke down every last piece. Boy, did I regret _that_ one in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/6 "2006-12-25T20:53:18Z")
My brother’s face goes bright red when he drinks cider. Quite funny, and it seems harmless. He doesn’t drink it anymore though. So I don’y know if he’d still have that reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/7 "2006-12-26T17:02:54Z")
My weirdest reaction to alcohol is that wine, especially red wines, make my feet itch! If I have over two glasses then my feet start itching and it gets so annoying that I started avoiding wine with meals. This is making meals less enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/8 "2006-12-26T17:40:30Z")
Yep, I get the drunken munchies, too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/9 "2006-12-26T17:46:47Z")
Drinking always gives me the munchies. I have never smoked dope, so I can’t compare it, but drinking will make me want to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/10 "2006-12-26T18:09:19Z")
Sorry this is anecdotal, but I swear I read somewhere where the “munchies” are quite often dehydration. Next time you sample your favorite legal drug of choice and you get hungry, try a big glass of water first instead. This is assuming it hasn’t been eight hours since your last substantial meal. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-harmlessly-so-reaction-to-alcohol/385500/11 "2006-12-26T18:54:16Z")
So that’s why the kitchen was so empty when we got home, eh? 😃 Also: > [@whiterabbit](#): > > Maybe, at least in this, I’m not so weird! Not to fear, there’s not much chance of that. 😃 😃