CBD Oil and Alcohol: What You Should Know Before Mixing Them

Alternaleaf Team
Written by
Alternaleaf Team
Dec 10, 2024
Last updated:
Dec 10, 2024

You’ve probably heard of CBD oil, and you’ve maybe even seen CBD oil products like drinks, bath salts and creams in retail shops on the high street. But what happens when you combine CBD oil with alcohol? Firstly let's start with what CBD oil is. 

With over 100 cannabinoids, or compounds, there’s lots to explore when it comes to the cannabis plant. Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of these compounds, and has a number of health benefits. It’s also non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t make you feel “high”. 

CBD oil comes from various parts of the hemp plant, and may contain a very low percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another compound that is psychoactive, so can be behind that “high” feeling cannabis is known for when used recreationally. CBD is extracted, then added to a carrier oil, making it easy to take and absorb into the body. The low THC levels means the product will not produce any psychoactive effects.

When you mix CBD oil with alcohol, some people believe they can intensify each other’s effects, and we’ll be exploring this more below.

What happens when you mix CBD and alcohol? 

Drinking alcohol can boost your mood, and make you feel more relaxed. CBD is similar in that it can reduce anxiety, amongst many other medical benefits. This includes positively impacting children with epilepsy, being anti-inflammatory, and even relieving skin conditions like eczema. We go into a lot more detail on the many health benefits of CBD oil here. For now, we’re exploring the effects of CBD with alcohol.

There’s a small amount of evidence to suggest reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality are boosted when CBD and alcohol are consumed together. In fact, some people claim that CBD and alcohol interaction intensifies the effects of both. So, separately they change mood and behaviour. Together, even more so. 

This study, although out of date, observed that the combination of alcohol and CBD significantly slowed down motor performance and altered people’s perception of time, something that didn’t happen when CBD alone was consumed. 

However, a lot more research is needed around how CBD mixes with alcohol. The above study is not only out of date, but also used high levels of CBD. Ultimately, there's not enough evidence to say for sure how taking both together could improve your health. 

Potential Interactions Between CBD Oil and Alcohol

Just like with any other medication, CBD oil can cause side effects. Even though it’s considered safe and is available over the counter, it can also interact negatively with some medications, as well as alcohol. 

Some side effects include: 

  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Changes in appetite
  • Diarrhoea

Luckily, the above are quite rare. 

But, due to such a huge lack of research, there are so many possible risks, because there just isn't enough information to back using CBD oil with alcohol. And until there’s evidence to show the two working hand-in-hand, we’d say it’s best to avoid consuming the two together. Or at the very least, speak to your pharmacist or doctor. 

CBD’s potential to reduce alcohol’s negative effects:

Once again, a lot more research is needed to be able to comment on whether CBD oil can help reduce the negative effects of alcohol. However, some people have explored this, and a few interesting things can be said. 

Drinking lots of alcohol in one sitting can damage cells and increase the risk of inflammation. And study after study shows that CBD oil can be effective in treating inflammation. Another study found that CBD could help protect the liver by increasing autophagy (the turnover of new cells that leads to tissue regeneration).

Although research is limited, some believe that CBD oil can help lower cravings. This study doesn’t apply to alcohol, but it does touch on addiction. 24 smokers found that using CBD for one week, reduced cigarette use by 40%. There’s also a small amount of evidence to suggest CBD can help reduce alcohol intake, prevent relapse, and decrease motivation to consume alcohol.

But for all of the above, a lot more research is needed to determine whether CBD oil can help with alcohol-induced cell damage, protect the liver, and lower alcohol cravings.

Is it Safe to Mix CBD and Alcohol Together?

As we mentioned before, there simply isn’t enough research when it comes to using CBD oil and alcohol together. And although some studies suggest CBD may reduce some of the negative side effects we feel after drinking alcohol, this doesn’t prove that together they'll result in positive health effects. 

It’s also important to note that some people may be consuming very high amounts of alcohol with CBD. Others may just be having a drink here and there after consuming CBD oil. You’d assume that these would both lead to different results. However, without proper research, there’s just no way to tell if there are any CBD oil benefits with alcohol.

And it’s always good to remember that the way you react to CBD oil can be very different to what someone else might experience. So, even though you might know someone who says their CBD oil is more effective when they consume it with alcohol, the same may not be true for you. 

And for that reason it’s best just to avoid taking CBD oil and alcohol together. 

Summary 

To answer the question: can you drink alcohol after taking CBD oil? Yes. However, without further evidence, we can’t say how beneficial this is or isn’t to your health. When purchased from a licensed clinic like Alternaleaf, you’ll be advised on the best way to consume your medication. 

Ultimately it’s always best to follow the advice of your specialist doctor. If you find drinking alcohol is changing the way you react to your medication, stop, and speak to them. And we’re always here to help with any questions you may have.