Tequila is claimed to be the only distilled spirit that operates as a stimulant rather than a depressant, as you’ve surely heard. As a result, many people are seeking the truth regarding this uncertainty.
So, is tequila a stimulant or a depressant? Our team made a thorough research and found the answer.
What is Tequila?
Tequila is made from a blue agave plant (Agave Tequilana). Western Mexico produces the distilled spirit. It is not tequila that is the national drink of Mexico. Its distinct flavor and taste have ensured its popularity across Mexico. As a result, it can be found in spirits such as the Classic Margarita, Tequila Sunrise, and Paloma.
The blue agave plant is a lily family member. The agave plant can be harvested after 7-10 years. The starches within are slowly baked then turned into sugar. After that, juices will be removed, and then the yeast will be added for fermentation. As a result, the sugar turns into liquor.
There are varieties of tequila, each distinguished by region in which agave is planted and its completed method. Reposado tequilas are matured in oak barrels for at least two months and sometimes three to nine months. Old tequilas are matured in oak barrels for 18 months to three years. And unaged gold tequilas are mixed with caramel or other additions.
Also Read: Reposado Tequila vs Anejo
How Strong is Tequila?
Tequila has earned a reputation for increasing any gathering’s rowdiness and roughness. If you drink tequila in cocktails, the sugar content of the mixer may elevate your blood sugar levels, changing your mood and energy as well.
Tequilas typically contain between 38 and 40% alcohol, or 76 and 80 proof. This is comparable to other types of drinks, such as vodka and whiskey.
Also Read: Why Tequila Makes You Sick
Is It A Depressant?
Although you may have witnessed individuals drinking tequila becoming loud and exuberant, tequila is a depressant. It has the same intoxicating element in wine, beer, vodka, and other liquors and distilled spirits. The alcohol molecule is the same as other spirits.
It’s often believed that tequila has a distinct effect on individuals than beer or wine. It is not true. Ethanol in beer, wine, and red wine has the same effect on the brain. However, how you drink these alcoholic drinks might impact your behavior.
Can Tequila also be a Stimulant?
Many people are confused: is tequila a stimulant? Although there are stimulating effects in it, it is mostly depressant. Tequila’s stimulating influence on the body only loses self-control or other words. It greatly affects your behavior.
Because of its relaxing or sleep-inducing properties, ethanol is a central nervous system depressant. On the other hand, the impacts you feel are dose- and environment-dependent. In little doses, ethanol can cause euphoria.
Additionally, alcohol can cause an increase in heart rate and hostility in some individuals, both of which are characteristic of stimulants. However, alcohol’s effects vary widely amongst people.
Moreover, most people like the energizing effects of alcohol, while people prefer the depressing effects. Researchers believe that persons who get more stimulation than calming effects are more prone to drinking. But, will tequila make you horny?
Its Effect on your Brain
When tequila’s pleasant dose of alcohol hits the brain, it quickly affects neurons and receptors. The brain’s “working bees” are neurons. They carry information and messages throughout your brain.
Their data regulates nearly every bodily function. Alcohol inhibits these neurons’ receptors, giving a sedative effect. A reduction in glutamate activity and a rise in dopamine and serotonin are effects of brain sedation.
Glutamate is an important substance for normal brain function because it allows nerve cells to function properly. These chemical changes in the brain influence behavior and emotion. Certain well-known alterations include memory loss, lack of balance/coordination, poor decisions, poor impulse control, increased aggression, etc.
How is Tequila Metabolized?
A small quantity immediately goes into the circulation via oral capillaries when you consume alcohol. When it reaches the stomach, it is rapidly processed. Further digestion of alcohol occurs in the small intestine, quickly absorbed into the circulation. Then it is brought to all other body regions, including the brain.
The water content of each tissue determines the distribution of alcohol throughout the body. The complete process (from the first drink to the brain) can take less than 15 minutes on an empty stomach.
Also Read:
- Should You Mix Tequila & Rum?
- Can Tequila Freeze?
- What’s Our Favorite Tequila Quotes?
- Who Produces Kirkland Tequila?
Is Tequila Safe For You?
Some claim tequila may help with anything from weight reduction to bone strength. No definitive proof exists that tequila is healthy for you, yet health dangers suggest the reverse. The main health concern is alcoholism, creating physical, emotional, mental, and relationship issues.
Doctors generally agree that no one should drink tequila for its claimed health benefits. Instead, they should eat enough food, exercise, and drink sensibly. Some people consume it straight, but it is recommended to consume it by shots.
Drink it by shots with some salt or lime to reduce the harshness of tequila. A liquor is defined as a 5-ounce glass of wine, 1.5-ounce shot of liquor, or 1.5-ounce cocktail.
FAQs
Is Tequila a hallucinogen?
No, tequila is not a hallucinogen. Tequila does not contain any active psychedelic ingredients [1]. However, drinking a whole bottle or taking a few shot glasses of vodka can make you drunk, but it’ll not make you hallucinate.
Can Tequila keep you awake?
No, tequila does not keep you awake. Ethanol is a depressant. It inhibits and blocks receptors in the brain, resulting in a sedating effect that slows down brain activity [2].
What is in tequila that makes you hallucinate?
There’s no ingredient in tequila that can make you hallucinate. Agave plants cannot cause hallucinations. But of course, massive drinking can make you drunk and messy for a while.
In Summary
Despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary, tequila is a depressant. While tequila may first appear to boost mood and energy, the way it is typically consumed in shots probably adds more to the myth’s perpetuation than anything else.
Drinking tequila sensibly may enhance your party or night. So take a couple of shots, hydrate, and fight another day.
References:
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/things-you-never-knew-about-tequila_n_5589092
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep/why-alcohol-disrupts-your-sleep.aspx
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds!