Whether it’s a night in with your friends, a dinner with your significant other or a Wednesday party, wine is a widely loved and delicious alcoholic beverage. But one glass may lead to one too many — it happens.
We often hear the term “wine drunk” being tossed around in discussions about our alcoholic indulgences. But really, what does this mean, if anything? Do we feel a different type of drunk after drinking wine, as opposed to a beer, seltzer or liquor?
VALLEY found the answers for you. Read on to discover if “wine drunk” is a truth or a lie.
What Constitutes “Wine Drunk”?
Symptoms of being tipsy, as you probably know, include being more talkative, loud, confident and oftentimes happier. After having more alcohol, people may have slurred speech, incoordination, confusion and more. “Wine drunk” is presented to be more of an in between. People may describe it as a relaxing, chill, comfortable “warm and cozy” feeling rather than an energetic and “out of control” one.
For a more vivid definition, Urban Dictionary defines “wine drunk” as “The kind of drunk that results in you making sleazy decisions, and falling asleep with a cheeseburger in one hand and a smashed iPhone opened up on your ex’s new girlfriend’s Instagram in the other.” Sounds about right.
Will a Certain Type of Wine Make Me Drunker?
Yes and no. Broadly, wine is divided into two categories: red and white. The color depends on whether the wine is fermented with the grape skins on or off, but Healthline says that red wine typically has a higher ABV, or alcohol by volume. Because of this, a glass of red wine with a high ABV versus the same size of a white wine with a lower ABV could get you slightly more drunk.
So…Is It a Real Thing?
Well, science says no. According to Healthline, “No matter what your alcoholic beverage of choice, the symptoms you feel when intoxicated are produced by the same ingredient, which is ethyl alcohol or ethanol. Which symptoms of intoxication you feel and how intense they are come down to a bunch of factors, none of which are the type of alcohol.”
However, our emotional responses to alcohol are reported to differ. According to a study by researchers Kathryn Ashton, Mark A Bellis, Alisha R Davies, Karen Hughes, and Adam Winstock, spirits are linked to more intense emotions, with nearly 30% of spirit drinkers feeling aggressive compared to just over 7% for red wine drinkers, while women tend to experience all emotions except aggression.
So yes – “wine drunk” is a myth, because being drunk is the same between all types of alcohol. But the feelings we get from drinking certain types can differ across the board.
Have you ever experienced the “wine drunk” phenomenon? Let us know @VALLEYMag on Instagram.
*VALLEY does not support underage drinking. Please remember to always drink responsibly.*
