Understanding the Myth: What Alcohols Are Considered Uppers?

October 9, 2025 •

3 min read

Despite common anecdotes, the notion that certain alcohols are 'uppers' is a widespread misconception, as all types of alcohol, including tequila, are classified pharmacologically as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. The initial feeling of energy or euphoria is due to a temporary biphasic effect, not a true stimulating action.

Quick Summary

All alcoholic beverages are CNS depressants, though they can produce short-term stimulant-like feelings. This initial effect is misleading, as the dominant and long-term impact is sedation and impairment, not stimulation.

Key Points

No Alcohols Are Uppers: All alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits like tequila, are classified as central nervous system depressants, not stimulants.
Biphasic Effect Explained: Alcohol produces a temporary stimulant-like effect at low doses (due to dopamine release) before transitioning to its dominant depressant effect as blood alcohol concentration rises.
The Tequila Myth is False: The belief that tequila is a stimulant is a widespread misconception, likely driven by social context and anecdotes rather than science.
Depressant, Not Stimulant: The primary pharmacological action of ethanol is to slow down brain activity by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.
Dangerous Misconception: Believing alcohol is a stimulant can lead to overconsumption and disregard for the body's warning signs, increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning and other harm.
Stimulants vs. Alcohol: True stimulants increase CNS activity (e.g., amphetamines), while alcohol ultimately decreases it, making them fundamentally different drug classes.
Risks of Mixing: Combining alcohol with true stimulants is dangerous, as the substances have opposing effects on the central nervous system.

The Pharmacological Reality: Alcohol as a Depressant

From a scientific and pharmacological perspective, all alcoholic beverages, regardless of their type or perceived effect, are central nervous system (CNS) depressants. The active ingredient in all beer, wine, and spirits is ethanol, which works by slowing down brain function and neural activity. This effect is primarily due to ethanol's ability to enhance the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. By boosting GABA activity, alcohol reduces brain activity, leading to slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and sedation.

The Biphasic Effect: Why Alcohol Can Feel Like an Upper

If all alcohol is a depressant, why do people report feeling energized, talkative, and euphoric after an initial drink or two? The answer lies in the biphasic effect of alcohol, where the substance produces different effects at different blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels.

Phase 1: The Stimulant-like Effect: During the initial phase, when BAC is rising but still low (typically below 0.05%), alcohol can temporarily trigger the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine in the brain's reward pathway. This surge of 'feel-good' chemicals, combined with lowered inhibitions, can create a false sense of increased energy, confidence, and sociability. This is the phase that leads to the popular misconception of alcohol acting as a stimulant or 'upper'.
Phase 2: The Dominant Depressant Effect: As drinking continues and BAC rises further, alcohol's true depressant nature takes over. The sedative effects begin to dominate, resulting in:
- Slurred speech
- Impaired coordination and motor skills
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cognitive and memory impairment

This shift is what ultimately confirms alcohol's classification as a depressant. The temporary 'lift' is a fleeting illusion that quickly gives way to slowed brain activity and bodily functions.

Debunking the Tequila Myth

One of the most persistent myths is that tequila is a stimulant. This belief likely stems from the common association of tequila with celebratory, high-energy events and binge drinking, which can produce an initial rush of excitement before the depressant effects take over. Some also incorrectly suggest it's because tequila comes from the agave plant, which is sometimes confused with hallucinogenic mescaline, an unrelated compound. The science is clear, however: the alcohol (ethanol) in tequila works identically to the ethanol in any other alcoholic beverage, acting as a depressant. The presence of congeners—byproducts of fermentation—can differ between spirits, but this does not change the fundamental depressant pharmacology of ethanol.

Alcohol vs. True Stimulants: A Comparative Look

It is important to differentiate between the biphasic, deceptive 'stimulation' of alcohol and the genuine pharmacological effects of true stimulants. Genuine stimulants directly increase CNS activity, while alcohol ultimately slows it down. This comparison highlights why mixing alcohol and actual stimulants is so dangerous.


Feature	Alcohol (Depressant)	True Stimulants (e.g., Amphetamines)
Primary CNS Effect	Slows brain activity; enhances inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.	Increases brain activity; enhances excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
Initial Feeling	Short-term euphoria, lowered inhibitions, perceived energy (biphasic effect).	Long-lasting heightened alertness, focus, energy, and elevated mood.
Long-Term Impact	Slowed reflexes, impaired judgment, sedation, memory loss.	Insomnia, cardiovascular stress, jitters, potential for intense crash.
Risks of Overdose	Sedation, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, coma.	Cardiovascular events, seizures, psychosis.

The Dangers of Misinterpreting Alcohol’s Effects

Believing that alcohol can act as a stimulant can have serious consequences. Chasing the initial, fleeting 'upper' effect can lead to rapid and excessive drinking. This behavior bypasses the body's natural warning signs, such as feeling drowsy, and accelerates the onset of the dangerous depressant phase, significantly increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning, impaired driving, and other harmful behaviors. When people drink to maintain a stimulated feeling, they are actually moving closer to the more profound and dangerous sedative effects.

Conclusion

No alcohol is a true 'upper'. The perception that some alcohols, like tequila, are stimulating is a myth based on a misinterpretation of alcohol's biphasic effect. While initial drinks may create a temporary feeling of euphoria and energy, the dominant and lasting effect of ethanol is to depress the central nervous system. Understanding this pharmacological reality is crucial for safe consumption and for debunking dangerous misconceptions about alcohol. Alcohol's overall effect is a 'downer', and recognizing this is a vital step toward making responsible choices about drinking. For more information on substance abuse and its effects, consider resources from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Frequently Asked Questions

No, tequila is not a stimulant. Like all other alcoholic beverages, tequila contains ethanol, which is a central nervous system depressant. The perception that it is a stimulant is a myth based on its initial biphasic effect or social context.

This initial feeling of energy or euphoria is due to the biphasic effect of alcohol. At low blood alcohol concentrations, alcohol can trigger a temporary release of dopamine, a 'feel-good' neurotransmitter, which creates a false sense of stimulation and lowered inhibitions.

A stimulant is a drug that increases central nervous system (CNS) activity, leading to heightened alertness and energy. A depressant, like alcohol, slows down CNS activity, resulting in relaxation, drowsiness, and impaired coordination.

No, mixing alcohol with a caffeinated energy drink does not change alcohol's pharmacological classification as a depressant. It can mask the depressant effects, making you feel more alert while still being impaired, which can lead to excessive drinking and a higher risk of alcohol poisoning.

No, there are no alcoholic drinks that are pharmacologically classified as stimulants. All types of alcohol, whether beer, wine, or spirits, have ethanol as their active ingredient, and ethanol is a depressant.

The biphasic effect can be dangerous because the initial stimulant-like phase may encourage rapid and excessive drinking. This can cause people to chase the 'high' and fail to recognize when they are entering the more profoundly impairing depressant phase, increasing health and safety risks.

During the depressant phase, alcohol significantly slows down central nervous system activity. This results in slowed reflexes, poor coordination, slurred speech, impaired judgment, and drowsiness, among other effects.

The myth is common due to anecdotal evidence and social context. Tequila is often consumed in party settings, where the initial effects of alcohol and the social environment create a feeling of heightened energy, which is mistakenly attributed to the beverage itself.