Emotional Differences: Moderate versus Abusive Alcohol Consumption

Differences in drinking patterns can influence how a person manages their emotions and even certain personality traits. Below, we explore recent scientific evidence showing how people who drink moderately differ emotionally from those who engage in abusive alcohol use, considering emotional regulation, personality traits, and individual factors involved.

Emotional Regulation and Stress Management

Why can some people consume alcohol moderately without problems, while others struggle to handle the substance? A key difference between moderate drinking and alcohol abuse lies in emotional regulation — that is, how a person manages feelings like stress, sadness, or anger. Studies indicate that individuals who abuse alcohol tend to have more difficulty dealing with negative emotions without drinking compared to moderate drinkers.¹ Often, excessive drinkers use alcohol as an “escape valve” for daily tensions, pointing to less efficient emotional regulation. Indeed, research with people undergoing treatment for alcohol dependence showed they have greater deficits in tolerating negative feelings than social drinkers.¹ On the other hand, moderate consumers usually do not rely on alcohol to cope with difficult emotions—they tend to use other coping strategies, maintaining better emotional balance without needing to get drunk. It is also worth noting that abusive use can worsen emotions in the long term: after binge drinking episodes, symptoms like heightened anxiety, irritability, and depressed mood during hangovers are common.²

Personality Traits and Impulsivity

Besides affecting how we handle emotions, drinking patterns are also linked to personality traits. People who abuse alcohol often display traits such as higher impulsivity and sensation-seeking, as well as a tendency to experience negative moods more frequently. Recent research points out that heavy drinkers tend, on average, to be less conscientious (i.e., less disciplined and organized) and less agreeable (possibly showing more hostility), in addition to having higher levels of neuroticism—a trait associated with emotional instability and a tendency toward anxiety and mood swings.³ In other words, those who abuse alcohol tend to be more impulsive and emotionally reactive. For example, some studies show that both moderate and some heavy drinkers tend to be somewhat more extroverted compared to abstainers, seeking socialization, but abusive drinkers are distinguished by higher impulsivity and lower self-control, which can lead them to exceed safe consumption limits.³ These impulsive personality traits may predispose individuals to excessive consumption and, at the same time, be aggravated by the habit of drinking excessively, creating a negative cycle.

Usage Pattern and Amount: Different Emotional Effects

The effect of alcohol on emotions also varies according to the amount ingested and the pattern of use. At low to moderate amounts, alcohol usually has a mild disinhibiting and anxiolytic effect—that is, it can reduce tension and promote a temporary feeling of relaxation and well-being. There is evidence that moderate use increases positive emotions and the feeling of social bonds—people become more relaxed and socially engaged after a small amount of alcohol.⁴ It is no coincidence that, in social contexts, moderate drinkers report feeling happier or more sociable. However, this effect has a limit. As the amount of alcohol increases (in abusive use), effects can become harmful: high levels of alcohol can cause abrupt mood changes, increased aggression, or exaggerated emotional reactions. Studies with young adults show that episodes of heavy drinking bring more negative consequences—such as regrets, arguments, or risky behaviors—without necessarily increasing positive sensations.⁵

In summary, abstainers or moderate drinkers tend to exhibit greater emotional balance, using alcohol in social contexts and showing more control over their impulses. Abusive use is associated with greater difficulty in emotional regulation, impulsivity, and mood swings. These differences are influenced both by the amount ingested and individual characteristics, such as how one copes with stress. Maintaining moderation helps protect not only physical health but also emotional well-being.

References:

1. Jakubczyk, A., Trucco, E. M., Kopera, M., Kobyliński, P., Suszek, H., Fudalej, S., Brower, K. J., & Wojnar, M. (2018). The association between impulsivity, emotion regulation, and symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 91, 49–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.05.004
2. van Schrojenstein Lantman, M., Mackus, M., van de Loo, A. J. A. E., & Verster, J. C. (2017). The impact of alcohol hangover symptoms on cognitive and physical functioning, and mood. Human psychopharmacology, 32(5), e2623. https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2623
3. Gmel, G., Marmet, S., Studer, J., & Wicki, M. (2020). Are Changes in Personality Traits and Alcohol Use Associated? A Cohort Study Among Young Swiss Men. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 591003. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591003
4. Sayette M. A. (2017). The effects of alcohol on emotion in social drinkers. Behaviour research and therapy, 88, 76–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.005
5. Patrick, M. E., & Terry-McElrath, Y. M. (2021). Drinking Motives and Drinking Consequences across Days: Differences and Similarities between Moderate, Binge, and High-Intensity Drinking. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 45(5), 1078–1090. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14591