Causes of Drunkness: Ethanol, Ethanal, Ethanoic Acid

[ShawnD]

Is it the ethanol, the ethanal, or the ethanoic acid?

 

[loseyourname]

It's the ethanol. It diffuses through cellular membranes at an amazingly fast rate, which is why you can get drunk pretty quickly if you drink fast enough, before anything has been metabolized. Initially, ethanol in the brain stimulates NMDA receptors in the cortex and hippocampus, which stimulates these areas and causes an increase in alpha-wave activity, associated with bodily relaxation. When you drink more, however, the receptors become unresponsive, and ethanol also causes GABA (an inhibitor) to flood certain parts of the brain, especially the hippocampus, which is thought to interfere with memory formation. I believe it is acetaldehyde that damages the liver, however. I'm not so sure about that one, though.

 

[ravenprp]

It is the ethanol that is primarily responsible for the effects of drunkenness. Ethanol is the main type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and is the substance that causes intoxication. When consumed, ethanol enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain, where it affects the central nervous system and alters a person's behavior, coordination, and cognitive function. Ethanal and ethanoic acid are byproducts of the breakdown of ethanol in the body, but they do not have the same intoxicating effects as ethanol. However, excessive consumption of ethanol can lead to the buildup of these byproducts, which can contribute to the severity of hangovers and other negative side effects. In summary, while ethanal and ethanoic acid may play a role in the effects of alcohol, it is ultimately the consumption of ethanol that causes drunkenness.