Why Alcohol Hits Even Harder on a Plane

Nicholas

2 weeks ago

Plenty of circumstances could make a flight feel like an opportune time to toss back a drink. Maybe you’re eager to get into the vacay spirit…or savor those last few hours of PTO. Or you just need something to take the edge off the stressful or unsettling experience that is air travel.

But no matter why you might reach for alcohol mid-flight, drinking on a plane can have some unintended effects. When the buzz wears off, you could be left feeling even crappier than if you’d been sipping on solid ground. And it’s not just the impact of mixing a hangover with the annoyances of navigating an airport. Read on to learn why experts say drinking on a plane can spark symptoms beyond feeling tipsy, and make the comedown that much worse.

Being on a plane can cause dehydration—and alcohol can exacerbate that.

Among its many effects, alcohol acts as a diuretic, meaning it tells your kidneys to flush out more fluids than usual, leading you to pee more often, Sanjay Kurani, MD, medical director of inpatient medicine at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, tells SELF. That isn’t just inconvenient in the setting of a plane; it can put you on a path to dehydration, which can bring on fatigue, headache, and a general feeling of crumminess.

And a plane isn’t exactly the most hydrating environment to begin with. The humidity level is lower within a plane cabin than it is in most homes, meaning that the air is literally drier. So your skin may feel more dried-out than usual—even before you start drinking, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York City–based board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, tells SELF.

The moisture-loving parts of your body will especially bear the burden. You could wind up with a parched mouth, chapped lips, and dry eyes, too, Omid Mehdizadeh, MD, an otolaryngology and head and neck (ENT) surgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., tells SELF.

Flying can also affect how your body is able to process alcohol.

The air pressure in the cabins of commercial planes is relatively low, comparable to that of an altitude of roughly 2,000 meters above sea level. This reduced pressure can slightly lessen the amount of oxygen that gets into your blood and makes its way to your brain, Carol Thelen, CRNP, a family nurse practitioner at Johnson Health Center in Lynchburg, Virginia, tells SELF, which can make some people feel a bit lightheaded.

Pair that dip in blood-oxygen level with the dehydration, and you could feel the effects of alcohol more quickly and intensely, Robyn Liu, MD, MPH, a board-certified family physician in Portland, Oregon, and a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians, tells SELF. That means, if it typically takes three or four drinks for you to feel the woozy rush of drunkenness, you might get there with just a couple on a plane.

If you’re on a lengthy flight or red-eye, the negative effects of alcohol could be further amplified by lack of sleep. Chances are, you’re not getting your most restful shuteye thanks to the noise, uncomfortable seating, and strangers in close proximity. Even if you do manage to conk out, alcohol can also mess with your ability to get REM sleep (the most restorative stage), leaving you feeling groggy and unfocused when you wake up.

Plus, trying to manage the stressors of flying and navigating an airport or unfamiliar surroundings is also going to be even more challenging if you’re feeling physically and mentally lousy.

Experts recommend finding an alternative to drinking on a plane—or taking steps to minimize the effects.

If ordering alcohol on a plane has become a knee-jerk reaction, you might pause to consider the underlying reason and whether a different solution could serve you better.

For instance, if you’re using booze as a crutch to manage flight anxiety, perhaps you pack a distracting activity, like a small craft project; learn a few breathing techniques; or download an app with guided meditations on it, Dr. Liu says. This way, when the feeling hits, you have something tangible to turn to that won’t risk a poorly timed hangover.

And if you’re drinking to better your chances of knocking out? Remember that alcohol ultimately worsens sleep quality. It’s better to practice good sleep hygiene, Dr. Liu says: Follow through with pre-sleep rituals (pop into the bathroom to brush your teeth), wear an eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones, and get cozy with a blanket or hoodie.

But let’s say you just enjoy having a beverage on a plane—maybe it’s a rare moment when you’re totally off the clock. In that case, you may not need to skip the alcohol altogether.

To lower your chances of feeling crappy afterward, first keep in mind that you don’t have to drink as much in the air to get the effects you would on the ground; one or two may be plenty. It’s also important to drink water, too, to steer clear of dehydration, Dr. Mehdizadeh says. Although the ideal amount varies from person to person, he recommends having a cup of water for every alcoholic drink you have. He also suggests bringing eye drops and nasal saline spray to take care of your eyes and nose amid the dry plane climate.

Ultimately, the decision to drink or not drink on a plane is up to you. Dr. Liu suggests paying attention to how you typically feel after a flight with a drink or two—if the hangover has you reeling, it’s worth skipping the booze next time and seeing where that lands you.