# Why can some people make (intentionally) snoring noises when drunk, but not when sober?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-some-people-make-intentionally-snoring-noises-when-drunk-but-not-when-sober/647357>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 16, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-some-people-make-intentionally-snoring-noises-when-drunk-but-not-when-sober/647357 "2013-01-16T04:23:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-some-people-make-intentionally-snoring-noises-when-drunk-but-not-when-sober/647357/1 "2013-01-16T04:23:24Z")

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There are quite a few people who can essentially snore while awake if they have had a decent amount to drink. However, the same people are completely unable of replicating said snoring if they are sober - it’s just beyond them.

What is the cause of this?

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**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-some-people-make-intentionally-snoring-noises-when-drunk-but-not-when-sober/647357/2 "2013-01-16T13:00:57Z")

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I’ve been tested for sleep apnea (basically snoring) and was told that the muscles in your neck relax when you sleep and that it can trigger one of the mechanisms that allows for snoring to occur. With enough alcohol I suspect the muscles can relax enough to trigger snoring as well.

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**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-some-people-make-intentionally-snoring-noises-when-drunk-but-not-when-sober/647357/3 "2013-01-16T15:12:20Z")

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Alcohol relaxes muscles in general; the soft palate in this case.