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The Mind Body Foundation

Does Alcohol help people fall asleep?

Myths Vs Facts on Sleep


Myth: Alcohol helps people fall asleep


Fact: Alcohol is a sedative that induces drowsiness, making one believe that it aids in falling asleep. The truth is that it is a sleep disruptor, and does not help in getting a full night’s sleep.


Due to the sedative nature of this drug, consuming it makes one drowsy initially but results in wakefulness in the middle of the night. This sedative induced drowsiness is wrongly considered to be sleep. Research shows that the brain waves of a person resting with the aid of alcohol is not the same as the brain waves of a person who is asleep. Alcohol is found to reduce REM sleep (deep sleep) which is essential for one to feel rested and refreshed in the morning. It can also aggravate sleep disorders, notably insomnia, sleep apnea and snoring.


So, if you come across someone saying things like “I’ll have some red before I hit the bed,” please enlighten them.



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