“This article is part of The Belief Bucket series, where we debunk common myths about alcohol and its perceived benefits.”
- Introduction: What is the Belief Bucket?
- Myth #1 – Relaxation (Alcohol helps me relax)
- Myth #2 – Happiness (Alcohol makes me happy)
- Myth #3 – Reward (Alcohol is my reward)
- Myth #4 – The Rosy Effect (Remembering only the good times)
- Myth #5 – Taste (Alcohol tastes amazing)
- Myth #6 – Social Ally (Alcohol helps me socially)
- Myth #7 – Sleep (Alcohol helps me sleep)
- Myth #8 – Moderate Drinking (Our obsession)
- Myth #9 – Boredom (Alcohol solves boredom)
- Myth #10 – The Buzz (Alcohol feels amazing) ← you’re here
Let’s talk about that buzz.
You know the one that kicks in after a couple of drinks.
That warm lift we mistake for relaxation, confidence, even happiness.
It’s one of the strongest hooks that keeps us drinking.
And yes, it can feel good. But only for a moment.
Here’s the problem: the buzz isn’t genuine pleasure. It’s your brain being tricked.
A fleeting high that keeps you stuck.
Your Brain Is Its Own Pharmacy
Your brain is like a world-class pharmacy, stocked with natural feel-good chemicals.
It can release dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and other neurotransmitters in response to real rewards like exercise, connection, achievement, and laughter.
Alcohol doesn’t earn those chemicals naturally. Instead, it hijacks the system. It forces out a rush of feel-good chemicals your body didn’t work for. And the result is a fake high that comes with a very real cost.
So let’s look at what actually happens when alcohol takes over those systems.
How Alcohol Hijacks Your Brain
Dopamine: The learning molecule
Dopamine teaches us what feels rewarding and motivates us to repeat it. Alcohol triggers a big dopamine surge, which makes the brain think drinking is worth doing again.
Example: You’re at a party, have a drink, and feel that first rush of euphoria. Your brain links alcohol to the fun. But was it really the drink? Or was it the music, the laughter, and the connection with friends?
Over time, the brain adapts. You need more alcohol to get the same buzz. What once felt amazing becomes ordinary or even disappointing. But the craving stays.
Serotonin: The feel-good neurotransmitter
Serotonin helps stabilize mood and promote happiness. Alcohol can briefly boost serotonin, which is why that first drink sometimes feels like an emotional lift.
Example: You might feel lighter and happier after a couple of drinks at a wedding. But the next morning brings irritability, anxiety, or sadness. That quick boost crashes into a serotonin dip, leaving you worse off.
GABA and Glutamate: The calm and the energy
Alcohol increases GABA, which calms the brain, and suppresses glutamate, which stimulates it. This is why drinking can feel relaxing at first.
Example: After a stressful day, you pour a glass of wine, your muscles loosen, and you think, Now I can relax. But as the alcohol wears off, the brain pumps up glutamate to balance things out. The result is feeling jittery, anxious, or restless.
That calm wasn’t real relaxation. It was a chemical off switch that bounced back hard.
The Short Buzz vs. the Long Cost
The short-term high:
- Temporary euphoria
- A fleeting sense of calm
- Lower social inhibition
The long-term cost:
- Disrupted mood regulation
- Reduced natural dopamine production, making everyday pleasures feel dull
- More anxiety and irritability when not drinking
- Dependence and cravings
The buzz is like borrowing happiness from tomorrow and paying it back with stress, fatigue, and emotional instability.
And when you step back and think about it, those “amazing buzz moments” often weren’t what they seemed.
The Buzz Isn’t as Special as It Seems
Think about your “best buzz moments.”
Was it really the alcohol that made them great? Or was it the laughter, the music, the celebration, or simply being away from work?
You can recreate those moments without alcohol. And they’ll feel even better because you won’t have to deal with the crash afterward.
The Trap of Chasing the Buzz
The first time people feel the buzz, it can seem magical. But over time:
- It takes more alcohol to reach the same buzz
- The buzz doesn’t feel as good as it once did
- Drinking becomes more about avoiding feeling bad than about feeling good
That’s because repeated drinking changes the brain. Dopamine receptors become less sensitive, so natural joys feel muted. Instead of enjoying life, we end up chasing a fading chemical trick.
The good news is the brain isn’t broken forever. Once you stop drinking, it starts to bounce back.
Your Brain Without Alcohol
Here’s the good news. When you stop drinking, the brain starts to heal.
Dopamine receptors reset. Serotonin balance improves. GABA and glutamate return to normal.
That means real happiness, motivation, and calm start coming back without paying the hangover tax.
It’s like unlocking your brain’s natural pharmacy again, so you can feel genuine pleasure from everyday life.
Real Pleasure Without the Buzz
- Exercise high: a natural dopamine and endorphin boost that doesn’t crash
- Meaningful conversation: releases oxytocin, creating connection and safety
- Achieving a goal: brings a dopamine surge linked to accomplishment
- Laughter: boosts serotonin and endorphins with no hangover attached
These are sustainable highs. They build you up instead of burning you out.
So if real highs are so much better, why do so many of us still fall for the buzz?
Why the Buzz Myth Sticks
The buzz myth feels true in the moment. It’s also tied to so many social cues like celebration, relaxation, and fun.
But when you understand the brain chemistry behind it, the magic trick disappears.
You see that:
- The “amazing” feeling is artificial
- The cost is high and long-lasting
- You already have everything you need to feel good naturally
The Buzz Is Just a Trick
The buzz from alcohol might feel good for a moment, but it’s a trick, a chemical shortcut that comes with a big emotional and physical bill.
- Alcohol hijacks your brain chemistry, creating fake pleasure
- The buzz fades quickly, leaving cravings and emotional crashes
- Real joy comes from natural rewards, not chemical shortcuts
- When you stop drinking, your brain recovers and genuine pleasure returns
The buzz isn’t amazing. It’s an illusion. And life feels far better once you stop chasing it.
— Brent
Finish the series with the Belief Bucket Recap →