Some societies, such as those of Russia and Ireland, have cultural stereotypes associated with drunkenness--in such societies, the ability to drink vast quantities of alcohol without getting drunk is thought to be worthy of respect. Arguably, such an attitude, wherever it does in fact exist, can be regarded as pathological, leading as it often does to alcoholism.
Drunkness is generally felt to be a good thing by the drunk person, at least till it wears offs, and the associated hangover starts.
Alcohol is a potent drug and consequently it has a range of side effects, some pleasurable and some less so. The amount consumed and the circumstances under which the alcohol was taken can play a large part in determining the extent of drunkenness. Drinking after eating a large meal is much less likely to induce drunkenness compared to taking in large amounts on an empty stomach?. This is because the presence of food in the stomach is able to slow the absorption of alcohol in to the bloodstream, diluting its effects over a longer time.
Cell membranes are highly permeable to alcohol, so once alcohol is in the bloodstream it can diffuse in to nearly every tissue of the body. This can contribute to the correspondingly dramatic effect seen when large amounts are taken.
Alcohol has a biphasic relationship on the body - its effects transform over an evening of drinking, from initial feelings of relaxation and cheerfulness to blurred vision and problems with coordination. After excessive drinking unconscioussness can often occur, although in extreme cases (when the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream is over 500mg per 100ml) alcohol can even cause death.
Although alcohol is commonly thought of purely as a depressant?, at low concentrations it can actually stimulate certain areas of the brain. Alcohol sensitises the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) system of the brain, making it more receptive to the neurotransmitter glutamate?. Stimulated areas include the cortex, hippocampus? and nucleus accumbens, which are responsible for thinking and pleasure seeking. Another one of alcohol's agreeable effects is the relaxative state it puts the body in to. This could be caused by heightened alpha brain waves surging across the brain. Alpha waves are observed (with the aid of ECGs) when the body is relaxed. Heightened pulses are thought to correspond to higher levels of enjoyment.
A well-known side effect of alcohol is the loosening it has on inhibitions. Alcohol makes neurons (brain nerve cells) much more permeable. This enables sodium ions, present in axons sprouting from nerve cells, to pass more easily out of cell membranes, negatively affecting the function of these cells. Areas of the brain responsible for planning and motor learning are dulled. A related effect, caused by even low levels of alcohol, is the tendancy for people to become more animated in speech and movement. This is due to increased metabolism in areas of the brain associated with movement, such as the nigrostriatal pathway. This causes reward systems in the brain to become more active, and combined with released inhibition can induce people to behave uncharacteristicly loud and cheerful.
The effect alcohol has on the NMDA receptors, earlier responsible for pleasurable stimulation, turns from a blessing to a curse later in the evening if further alcohol is consumed. NMDA receptors start to become unresponsive, slowing thought in the areas of the brain they are respo
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