10 Myths About Alcohol Everyone Believes

Alcohol has been a part of human culture for centuries, but along with its popularity comes a fair share of myths and misconceptions. Many people believe things about alcohol that simply aren’t true, whether it’s about how it affects your body, what makes a drink “better,” or how to avoid a hangover. It’s time to separate fact from fiction and debunk some of the most common alcohol myths.

1. Dark Liquor Is Always Stronger Than Clear Liquor
Many people assume that whiskey, dark rum, and brandy are stronger than vodka, gin, or tequila just because of their darker color. The truth? It depends on the proof. Both light and dark liquors can have similar alcohol content. The difference lies more in flavor, aging process, and congeners (compounds that can contribute to hangovers).

2. Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker
You’ve probably heard this rhyme before, but the order in which you drink alcohol doesn’t determine how sick you get. The real issue is how much you drink overall. Mixing drinks can make it easier to lose track of consumption, but it won’t inherently make you feel worse if you drink responsibly.

3. Expensive Liquor Means Better Quality
A higher price tag doesn’t always mean better taste or quality. Many mid-priced spirits outperform expensive ones in blind taste tests. Branding, packaging, and marketing often play a role in pricing. While some premium liquors are superior, it’s always best to choose based on taste rather than price.

4. You Can Sober Up Quickly With Coffee or a Cold Shower
Nope. The only way to sober up is to let your body metabolize the alcohol naturally. Coffee might make you feel more awake, and a cold shower might shock your system, but they won’t lower your blood alcohol content (BAC). Time is the only cure.

5. Clear Liquors Don’t Cause Hangovers
While it’s true that darker liquors contain more congeners, which can contribute to hangovers, drinking any type of alcohol in excess can result in a rough morning. Staying hydrated and drinking in moderation is a far better strategy than relying on the type of liquor.

6. Breaking the Seal Makes You Pee More
People often believe that once they use the restroom after drinking, they’ll have to go constantly. In reality, alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production no matter when you first go. It’s not about “breaking the seal” but about how much alcohol you consume.

7. Eating Before Drinking Prevents You from Getting Drunk
Eating before drinking slows the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, but it doesn’t stop you from getting drunk. You may feel the effects more gradually, but your BAC will still rise—it just takes longer to reach its peak.

8. Tequila Makes You Crazy
Tequila has a reputation for making people wild, but it’s not any different from other liquors in terms of alcohol effects. The way you feel after drinking depends more on your mood, environment, and how much you consume, not the type of alcohol.

9. Alcohol Warms You Up
While alcohol creates a warm sensation by dilating blood vessels, it actually lowers your core body temperature by pulling heat away from your organs. That’s why drinking alcohol in freezing conditions can be dangerous—it makes you feel warm while increasing the risk of hypothermia.

10. You Can “Sweat Out” Alcohol
No matter how much you sweat at the gym or in a sauna, alcohol is primarily processed by your liver, not your sweat glands. Only a tiny fraction leaves through sweat and breath. The rest takes time for your body to break down.