Are People More Honest When They’re Drunk?

Alcohol can influence the brain in ways that make people more likely to speak their minds, but its effects on honesty aren’t clear-cut. The old saying “In vino veritas”—meaning “In wine, there is truth”—suggests that alcohol acts like a truth serum, but the reality is more nuanced.
Aaron White of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that alcohol increases the likelihood of saying whatever is on one’s mind. Sometimes this means expressing the truth, but it can also mean stating things that feel true in a drunken state but may not hold up when sober. This could lead to bold but impulsive declarations, like promising to quit a job or move cities, only to backtrack the next day.
While there’s no specific research on alcohol’s effect on honesty, studies show that alcohol impacts personality, emotions, and cognition. A 2017 study found that participants became more extroverted after drinking, making them more likely to be candid. However, alcohol also intensifies emotions, which can lead to volatile statements that might not reflect one’s sober thoughts.
Alcohol dampens signals in the prefrontal cortex, reducing impulse control, and suppresses the amygdala, which normally triggers feelings of fear and anxiety. This disinhibition can cause behaviors to become more extreme, making people more likely to act on impulses they would avoid while sober.
So, does alcohol make people more honest? Not exactly. While it may lead to more open expression, it also increases the likelihood of saying things that might not be deeply felt or may be regretted later. As White puts it, “Alcohol is not a truth serum—that’s for certain.

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