Why Do I Crave Alcohol?

Cravings are slippery — and yet we know exactly what they are. Ever found yourself reaching for that wine bottle or considering another cold one more often than you’d like? Well, you’re not alone. Many people wonder, “Why the heck do I crave alcohol?”

In The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, British author and addiction specialist Allen Carr gives one of the most spot-on descriptions of cravings, calling them “an empty, insecure feeling” similar to hunger. Unlike hunger, however, there’s often an uneasy flavor to it: you want something, but you don’t want to want it. Worse yet, giving in to cravings tends to make them show up more and more frequently.

When it comes to alcohol, it’s not just about having an “aah” moment after a long day, or trying to drown out a bad one. The truth is that alcohol cravings are a mix of biology, psychology, and social environments. So let’s pull the curtain back on those cravings and give you some tools to handle them!

1. Biology and Brain Chemistry: The Body’s Tug of War

Our brain likes to feel good. When we drink alcohol, it releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that signals pleasure and reward. Over time, and with regular consumption, the brain starts to associate alcohol with that lovely dopamine surge. When we don’t drink, the brain goes, “Hey, where’s my feel-good chemical?” This can lead to cravings.

We often think of our brains as sophisticated command centers, always rational and analytical. And while that might be true about the prefrontal cortex, the more primitive “lizard brain” behind the reward circuit is a lot like an eager toddler in a candy store when it comes to seeking pleasure. Let’s dive deeper into how this pleasure-seeking system is linked to our alcohol cravings.

Dopamine: The Star of the Show

When we do something enjoyable — such as eating a delicious meal, laughing at a joke, or yes, drinking alcohol — our brain releases dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. When we consume alcohol, dopamine floods our brain, and over time, our noggin starts to think, “Hey, alcohol equals a good time!”

Research shows that with repeated alcohol consumption, the brain starts anticipating the dopamine surge. So even before we take that first sip, just the thought of drinking can get our dopamine factories revved up! It’s like when we think about a chocolate cake in the middle of the night — even without tasting it, we can already feel that sugary delight.

Adaptation: A Double-Edged Sword

Our brains are also masters of adaptation. Drink regularly, and the brain thinks it's getting too much of a good thing. In response, it might produce less dopamine over time or reduce the sensitivity of dopamine receptors. The result? We start to need more alcohol to achieve the same “feel-good” effect. It's a bit like needing more and more coffee to wake up if we’re regular caffeine consumers.

When we try to cut back or quit, the brain objects: “Hold on a minute! Where’s my dopamine fix?” With the absence of regular alcohol-induced dopamine surges, we might feel down or experience a mood dip. That's the brain urging you to get back to your old ways, otherwise known as the withdrawal effect.

2. The Emotional Band-Aid: When Feelings Meet Booze

As much as we’d like to deny it at times, our emotions play a huge role in many of our choices. From the clothes we wear based on our mood, to the comfort food we reach for after a tough day, our feelings often steer the ship. The relationship between emotions and alcohol is no different.

For some, alcohol becomes a trusted ally against stress, sadness, or anxiety. But here's the catch: while it seems to provide temporary relief, it doesn’t fix the root cause of these emotions. Over time, we might find ourselves craving a drink whenever these feelings emerge, because the brain has made a connection: “Feeling down? Alcohol will fix it!”

In this way, alcohol serves as an instant emotional band-aid. Had a rough day? A drink might make it feel better. Feeling anxious about an upcoming event? A little booze might take the edge off. Over time, this pattern can create a more ingrained reflex in the brain: a negative emotion surfaces, and we instinctively reach for a drink to “soothe” it without giving it a second thought.

Why It Seems to Work (But Doesn’t Really)

Since alcohol is a depressant that slows down the nervous system, the initial effects often do, in fact, feel calming. But here's the twist: while the immediate effects might seem relaxing, in the long run, science shows that alcohol can increase feelings of anxiety and depression. It’s like using a leaking bucket to carry water; it might seem helpful initially, but we’re losing more than we’re gaining as the brain’s natural neurotransmitter levels tip in the other direction.

In addition to depleting our dopamine levels over time, the brain overcompensates by releasing dynorphin to counteract the excessive release of dopamine. Instead of producing pleasure, dynorphin does the opposite: it decreases dopamine production, inducing feelings of dysphoria. This is the brain's way of saying, "Okay, that's enough pleasure for now."

The Cycle of Emotion-Driven Drinking

Over time, with repeated exposure to pleasurable stimuli — especially potent ones — the brain releases more and more dynorphin to counteract the high dopamine levels. This can reduce the overall sensitivity of the brain's reward system, making it harder to feel pleasure from everyday activities and potentially leading to a cycle of increased substance use to chase the original high.

Here’s the cycle many folks find themselves in: they drink to cope with an emotion, the effects of the drink wear off, and they’re left with the same (or heightened) emotional distress, leading them to drink again. It's a loop that can be hard to break free from, especially if the underlying emotional triggers aren’t addressed.

Building New Emotional Connections

The good news? Just as our brain can create associations between emotions and drinking, it can also learn new associations. This means we can train the brain to link challenging emotions with healthier coping strategies — talking to a friend, indulging in a hobby, or simply taking a few deep breaths. We are ultimately in the driver’s seat as far as our response to emotions, and by understanding the reasons behind our cravings and building new, positive associations, we’re taking charge of our journey, one feeling at a time.

3. Social Environments: It’s Everywhere!

Let's be real: we live in a culture where alcohol is often the centerpiece of social activities. From dinners to celebrations, to watching a football game — it's there. 

These scenarios can create associations between fun times and alcohol in our minds. When invited to such events, the brain jumps in with a nudge: “You’ll have more fun with a drink!” Over time, this has cemented the idea that to celebrate, commemorate, or even commiserate, a drink must be in hand, creating social cues around booze.

Ever been to a gathering where everyone is holding a drink and felt a bit out of place without one? That's social cue activation in play. Sometimes, it's not even a genuine craving, but the pressure to fit in that drives us to pick up a glass. It's a little like wearing a certain fashion because everyone else is doing it, even if it's not quite "you."

The Mirror Effect

One of the reasons we are naturally driven to “fit in” has to do with the so-called "mirror neurons” — the neurological mechanism behind empathy that helps us pick up on the emotions and actions of those around us by triggering the corresponding pathways in the brain even though we’re not experiencing the same stimuli directly. When everyone is laughing, clinking glasses, and sipping away, our brains say: "hey, that seems fun, I want in!" So even if we weren't in the mood for a drink initially, the brain can easily change its tune.

Setting Boundaries and Shifting Perspectives

Now, this doesn’t mean you should start avoiding every social scenario with alcohol. Instead, recognize these influences and set boundaries. Your boundary can be choosing a non-alcoholic drink that you genuinely enjoy, or focusing on the conversations and connections instead of the drink in hand.

Navigating social waters where alcohol is omnipresent can be a tad challenging. But as with any challenge, it's also an opportunity — an opportunity to listen to your inner voice, set your course, and dance to your own tune, even if it's a bit different from the crowd's rhythm. After all, being authentically you is always in style!

4. Habit Loop: Routine in Play

Finally, one of the “stickiest” causes of cravings has to do with the so-called habit loop. Have a routine of wine with dinner? Or a beer after mowing the lawn? These can become habitual. When a habit is formed, the brain switches to autopilot. The moment you sit for dinner or finish mowing, the brain signals, “It’s time for that drink!”

While habits are related to the neurochemical reward circuit, emotional triggers, and social pressures we discussed earlier, they can be even more tricky to address since they can extend beyond those factors. Even in the absence of a physical “need” for alcohol, an emotion that we want to escape from, or a social situation driving us to conform, drinking can become ingrained in our lives as something that we “do” on a regular basis — with or without an identifiable “reason.”

The Three-Step Dance of Habits

Habits generally follow a three-step loop:

• Cue. This is a trigger that initiates the behavior. For instance, finishing a workday might signal it's time to unwind.
• Routine. This is the actual behavior or action. In our context, it could be pouring and sipping on a drink.
• Reward. The outcome that your brain enjoys and wants to remember for the future. With alcohol, it might be a feeling of relaxation or euphoria.

This loop, once established, can be hard to break because it's been reinforced over time. It becomes an automatic response.

Why? Our brains are efficiency experts. When a pattern is repeated often enough, the brain conserves energy by turning that sequence into a habit. That's why, after driving home countless times, you might pull into your driveway and wonder, "How did I get here so quickly?" It’s the same thing with alcohol. If we regularly have a drink at a particular time or situation, the brain goes into autopilot. It’s like your favorite playlist on repeat!

Hijacking the Habit Loop

That a habit has formed doesn't mean that it is set in stone. The trick is to recognize the cue and replace the routine while still achieving a similar reward. If the cue is stress and the routine is drinking, for instance, we can replace drinking with a short meditation session, a walk, or listening to your favorite tunes — anything that provides relaxation (the reward).

Habits shape our days in more ways than we might realize. By understanding the rhythm of our routines and being proactive, we can rewire our habits to help steer us toward where we want to be.

Goodbye, Cravings!

Now that we have a better idea of what drives our cravings, let’s chart a new course of action! Here are some ideas for dealing with cravings when they strike:

• Mindful awareness. Start by recognizing your craving without judging it. “Oh, there’s that craving again.” By acknowledging it without acting on it, you can let the urge pass.
• Train the brain with new rewards. Recall the dopamine-driven reward system? To counterbalance the pleasure associated with alcohol, find alternative sources of dopamine. Perhaps it’s a delicious mocktail, a piece of dark chocolate, or a five-minute dance break to your favorite song! Whatever it is, the new experience can give your brain the pleasurable hits it craves, sans alcohol.
• Emotional journaling. Tap into the power of self-awareness. Whenever you feel the urge to drink, jot down the emotion you're experiencing. By tracking patterns over time, you'll develop a clearer picture of emotional triggers, empowering you to address them directly.
• Shuffle the habit deck. The next time that habitual drinking cue strikes, shake things up to replace the routine. Maybe sip on some herbal tea or head out for a brisk walk. Disrupting the familiar loop can recalibrate the brain's automatic responses over time.
• Engage with dynorphin knowledge. Acknowledge the power of dynorphin. When you feel that post-high low, remind yourself it's a natural brain response, not a genuine need for more alcohol. This awareness can prevent overconsumption in pursuit of a diminishing pleasure return.
• Stay active. Engaging in physical activity, whether it’s a brisk walk, yoga, or a short jog, can help in releasing endorphins — another one of those feel-good chemicals — and act as a distraction to reduce the intensity of the craving.
• Taste adventures. Explore teas from around the world. The diverse flavors and rituals associated with tea preparation can become a fascinating replacement for the alcohol tasting experience.

In addition to learning how to deal with cravings directly, it helps to restructure your daily life to make it easier to stay on track:

• Design social situations. Planning to attend a gathering? Arrive prepared. Carry your favorite non-alcoholic drink or, better yet, introduce a fun mocktail for everyone. When you're the trendsetter, it's easier to sidestep the pull of alcohol-focused social cues.
• Set visual goals. Create a visual representation of your alcohol-free days, such as a calendar where you mark off each successful day. Watching your progress can be motivating and offers a tangible reminder of your determination and growth.
• Mini challenges. Set up mini challenges for yourself. For instance, for every day you resist a craving, add an extra minute to your morning jog or meditation session. It's a way of celebrating your victory while also boosting another aspect of your wellness.
• Create alcohol-free zones. Dedicate certain areas of your home, like the bedroom or the study, as alcohol-free zones. This physical separation can act as a reminder and barrier against impulsive drinking.
• Declutter. Rid your environment of excessive alcohol. Having fewer bottles around can reduce the visual cues that spark a craving.
• Digital detox. Sometimes, seeing others indulge in drinks on social media can trigger cravings. Designate specific times in your week for a digital detox. Use this time to connect with nature, read, or pursue other offline hobbies.
• Manage stress. Find healthier ways to deal with stress. This might mean deep-breathing exercises, meditation, or even just a simple hobby like painting or reading.
• Build a support squad. There's incredible strength in numbers. Connect with people who share your goal of reducing alcohol intake. Whether it's joining an online group, attending support meetings, or simply roping in a friend, having cheerleaders on your side can make the journey smoother.

Beyond the Craving

Understanding why we crave alcohol is the first step in navigating and managing these urges. By getting to know our triggers and equipping ourselves with actionable steps, we’re setting a foundation for a healthier, more empowered relationship with alcohol. Remember: every small step counts!

There’s even better news. It’s easy to see alcohol cravings as nagging adversaries, incessantly reminding us of a past we might want to leave behind. But what if we flipped the script? What if, nestled within these urges, there was a powerful opportunity waiting to be harnessed?

Transforming Cravings into Catalysts

Managing cravings, in all their persistent tug and pull, offers us a unique chance to reclaim the driver's seat of our lives. Each time we face a craving head-on, it becomes more than just resisting temptation. It turns into a conscious choice to prioritize our well-being, our dreams, and our future.

Every craving we overcome is a stepping stone, an evolution towards a life more vibrant, authentic, and fulfilling than ever before. We are not only saying “no” to alcohol. We're also saying a resounding "yes" to personal growth, new hobbies, and deeper connections. It's all about adding layers of richness, building resilience, and crafting a life narrative filled with intent and purpose.

So as we forge ahead, let's remember that cravings, once seen as setbacks, can actually be the very catalysts that propel us into a future brighter and better than anything we've known before. Cheers to the beautiful journey of self-discovery and unparalleled growth!