What is it about alcohol that turns even timid people into lions?

General Knowledge Facts : Many people believe that a few sips of alcohol is the easiest way to overcome a lack of confidence. For some, it gives them the courage to speak freely at the party, while others, under its influence, express their innermost feelings or forget their stage fright. But does alcohol really give a person confidence, or does it just temporarily trick the mind?

When alcohol enters the body, it disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters, or chemicals, in the brain. The most important of these is a chemical called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). Alcohol, acting like GABA, slows down brain activity, leading to relaxation, reduced stress, and a false sense of security. This is why many people say, “After one drink, all fear is gone.”

The effects of alcohol are not limited to this. It also affects the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The same part that helps us reason, control and make wise decisions. When the mind becomes calm, one’s hesitation and fear are reduced, and tasks that seemed difficult before become easier. That’s why drunk people talk more freely, laugh louder, and sometimes say things they would never say when drunk.