Your Vodka Soda Is Getting You Drunker Faster Than You Think

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Do you ever notice how you and your friends can end up at dramatically different levels of drunkenness after just one cocktail? Well, the science behind that variation has more to do with the actual drinks you’re choosing than each individual’s alcohol tolerance. And those who mix liquor with a carbonated beverage (looking at you, vodka soda fans) are definitely getting turnt faster.

When you mix liquor with sugar-free carbonated drinks (seltzer water, diet sodas, etc.), the bubbles in the beverage help transport the alcohol from your stomach to your small intestine faster, which ultimately speeds up your alcohol absorption rate. A 2007 study found that as the gases distend your stomach (read: make you feel bloated), that distention increases your body’s rate of “gastric emptying.” And the sooner alcohol reaches your small intestine, the sooner booze enters your bloodstream and gets you tipsy.

This rationale also applies to why champagne knocks you on your ass so much faster than chardonnay when their alcohol content is virtually the same.

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Now, when you add sugar to the mix by using fruit juice or even regular soda, your body treats the cocktail more like food. It stays in your stomach longer, so the alcohol is absorbed more slowly. While this might not seem ideal if you’re looking to lock down a buzz quickly, it’s actually better for your health than sipping the low-calorie alternatives. Research suggests that drinking liquor mixed with a sugar-free carbonated beverage can lead to 18 percent higher blood alcohol levels than consuming their caloric counterparts, increasing safety risks.

So regardless of your preference, drink wisely and know how your cocktail preference will impact your state of mind before things get out of hand. Your sober self will thank your drunk self the following morning.