Is Tequila a Stimulant or a Depressant? 

What Is a Stimulant?

Stimulants are groups of drugs that provide increased activity in the body. Often referred to as “uppers”, these drugs are usually abused because of their performance-enhancing and euphoric effects.

A person who takes a stimulant experiences heightened energy levels and enhanced focus. The drug temporarily increases the levels of dopamine in the brain, speeding up mental and physical processes, causing users to feel great. However, after the drug wears off, it can have unpleasant consequences.

What Is Tequila?

Tequila is a distilled liquor made from the fermented juices of the blue agave plant, primarily found in the surrounding city of Tequila and the Jaliscan Highlands (Los Altos de Jalisco). It’s one of the most popular spirits in the world that’s largely consumed in Mexico and the United States.

Is Tequila a Stimulant or Depressant?

According to Dr. Nehal Vadhan, a psychologist with expertise in substance use, tequila is not a stimulant. It’s a depressant just like any other alcohol. So, why would people believe that tequila is a stimulant?

According to Dr. Vadhan, the top reason why people think it’s a stimulant is that it’s mostly consumed through quick shots, which gives them skewed expectations about what it makes them feel. Moreover, tequila tends to be consumed at parties, as opposed with meals, like wine or beer, making people think it’s a hype drink.

Since people are often excited and aroused after drinking tequila, they get the perception that tequila is a stimulant. Despite getting or seeing people get raucous and overly energetic, tequila is a depressant since it’s a form of ethanol, the intoxicating ingredient in all other liquors, including wine and beer.

The alcohol molecule in all alcoholic drinks is the same and will affect the brain the same way. The phrase “Tequila makes me crazy” may come from how it’s usually drunk, which is in the form of shots, taken in fairly short succession. Beer and wine, on the other hand, are sipped over time and often used to relax.

According to Healthline, stimulants and depressants both affect your nervous system and brain function, but in opposite ways. Stimulants excite your nervous system and may increase blood pressure and heart rate to give you more energy.

Depressants, on the other hand, slow you down by decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure. They make you feel relaxed and can even sedate you. Initial doses of alcohol may stimulate your brain, leaving you energized. In addition, alcohol increases your heart rate, which might lead to aggression in some people.

Stimulant effects manifest when your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) approaches 0.05 mg/l, but are replaced by more depressant effects when the BAC reaches 0.08 mg/l. This is the level you’re considered legally impaired to drive in the United States.

While alcohol has some stimulant effects, especially in low doses, it’s mainly a depressant substance. The thing is, the effects of alcohol may vary from one person to another. Some people may experience more stimulating effects from tequila, while others may experience more depressant effects.

When you take tequila, the effects will vary, depending on the amount you consume and the situation you are in. In smaller amounts, your experience can be euphoric. However, overindulging causes rowdy and wild behavior. The amount of sugar in the mixer might be to blame for spikes in your blood sugar, which alters your mood.

Tequila has 38-55 percent ethanol, depending on the brand and type, and since ethanol affects your neurotransmission and slow brain activity, it makes your favorite shot a depressant.

Conclusion

With the myth of whether tequila is a stimulant or a depressant out of the way, tequila is a great addition to any party, if it’s enjoyed responsibly. As a depressant, tequila has a significant influence on your mind, body, and behavior.

Therefore, act responsibly, and if you think you’ve had too many to drink, call an Uber for your safety and other road users.