# Whiskey Drinkin' **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973 "2000-02-09T17:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/1 "2000-02-09T17:54:00Z")
## I’m not a big drinker, but when I drink whiskey and such…why is there a sudden hot, burning sensation in the throat? You’d think the alcohol would have the opposite effect! Perhaps someone can explain what’s happening. “I was a little drunk at the time” P. Floyd ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/2 "2000-02-10T06:01:00Z")
You pour a flammable liquid down your throat, one that’s also a powerful solvent that strips away the protective mucous, and you wonder why it burns? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/3 "2000-02-10T06:03:00Z")
Ah, I answered too quiclkly. The cooling effect of alcohol poured on your skin is due to rapid evaporation. No cooling breeze in your esophagus to mask other sensations. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/4 "2000-02-10T06:10:00Z")
But, Padeye! Other flammable drinks have no noticeable effect, and besides, your body heat in the throat is enough to evaporate (and cool even without a breeze)! The breeze isn’t even necessary. Yes, I still wonder why! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/5 "2000-02-10T06:23:00Z")
Other flammable drinks? If you’re drinking flammable things other than alcohol, no wonder your throat hurts! ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/6 "2000-02-10T06:34:00Z")
“Other flammable drinks have no noticeable effect” I’m stumped, I don’t know of many other flammable drinks besides distilled spirits. Can you give me some examples? As for evaporation to have cooling effect the warmer molecules need to go somewhere so that the remaining ones have an average lower temperature. That’s misleading though because the “heat” you feel is not thermodynamic heat. Cayenne pepper and other irritants do not raise the temperature in your mouth but causes the exact same nerve reaction as a themal burn. Same is true in the opposite way of mints/menthols which make your mouth feel cooler but don’t lower the temperature. ---
**Author:** ![Myron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Myron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/7 "2000-02-09T19:01:00Z")
The burning is the flavor of the whiskey. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/8 "2000-02-09T21:50:00Z")
I think we’re forgetting the real issue here, that being “What is the difference between ‘flammable’ and ‘inflammable’”. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/9 "2000-02-09T21:54:00Z")
I thought the burning sensation was because alcohol of that concentration removes water from the cells near the surface, therefore irritating them. Just a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![Crystalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Crystalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crystalguy)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/10 "2000-02-09T22:18:00Z")
It burns to remind you of what a good time you are having. Also to keep you awake while you are having such a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/11 "2000-02-09T23:16:00Z")
You’re pouring a toxin into your body, and you wonder that it hurts? Of course, it’s such a **fun** toxin… I do love alcohol _hic_ * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/12 "2000-02-10T04:30:00Z")
I’d have to agree with Padeye, he’s got the best reason. The mucous membranes are extremely sensitive, and concentrated, with no air circulation, alcohol is gonna burn the hell out of you. Think of Altoids. Or Tic Tacs. Or any peppermint candy. One on your tongue is nice and sweet; chew up a handful and swallow the chunks and dust, see how your throat feels. :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![hightechburrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@hightechburrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hightechburrito)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiskey-drinkin/6973/13 "2000-02-10T06:06:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by occ: > **I think we’re forgetting the real issue here, that being “What is the difference between ‘flammable’ and ‘inflammable’”.** There is no difference between something that is flammable and inflammable. Something that will not burn is **NON** Flammable * * * We must blame them and cause a fuss before somebody thinks of blaming us. Sheila Broflofski