Think Twice Before Taking That Shot

You're out with friends, having a good time, when someone offers to buy the next round. They return with a tray full of shots. We've all been there—shots have become a symbol of celebration and fun. There's even a popular song about them.

But what seems like harmless fun can actually harm your health and well-being, even after just one shot. So how many shots are too many? Let's explore the facts.

How Your Body Handles Alcohol

When you drink alcohol, it's quickly absorbed into your bloodstream through your stomach and small intestine. It then travels to your brain, kidneys, lungs, and liver—where it's processed. Your liver can only handle one standard drink per hour.

A standard drink equals:

• 12 fl oz of regular beer
• 5 fl oz of table wine
• 2-3 fl oz of liqueur or aperitif
• 1.5 fl oz shot of liquor

Whether you drink wine, beer, a cocktail, or a shot, your liver needs about an hour to clear the alcohol from your system.

Spirits like vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, and brandy are much stronger than beer or wine. They typically range from 37.5% to over 50% alcohol by volume (ABV), compared to beer at around 5% ABV and wine at about 12% ABV.

Shots are especially risky because of their strength and how quickly they're consumed. While you might sip a beer or wine over 20-40 minutes, a shot is often downed in seconds. This means you'll feel the effects faster and for longer.

Unexpected Effects of Taking Shots

Besides making you feel drunk faster, shots can cause surprising changes in your body—and the more you take, the more intense these effects become.

You'll Feel Hungrier, Even When Full

Alcohol is high in calories—7 calories per gram, more than sugar and slightly less than fat. But instead of making you feel full, drinking alcohol actually increases hunger.

This happens because alcohol doesn't convert to sugar like other carbs. Instead, it lowers your blood sugar, making you feel hungry. Your liver treats alcohol as a toxin and prioritizes removing it over other functions. Even if you eat sugary or carb-heavy foods while drinking, your blood sugar still drops—explaining those late-night cravings.

Researchers also found that alcohol can activate the same brain area triggered by fasting, further increasing hunger.

You'll Feel Warm, But Your Body Is Cooling Down

You might feel a warm, tingly sensation after a shot, but this is misleading. The warmth comes from blood vessels expanding (vasodilation), which increases blood flow to your skin. While you feel warmer, your core body temperature actually drops. Even one shot can disrupt your body's temperature control reflexes.

The "warm and fuzzy" emotions come from a temporary release of serotonin and endorphins in your brain. But just like the physical warmth, these feelings fade quickly.

You'll Feel Happier, But Only Briefly

Drinking is often linked to feelings of happiness and pleasure. A single shot triggers a large release of dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical that encourages you to drink more.

However, this mood boost is short-lived. The rapid dopamine surge can actually make you feel worse later. If you were already feeling down, these emotions may intensify the next day. Alcohol is a depressant that disrupts your brain's natural production of mood-regulating chemicals like dopamine and serotonin.

Increased Risk of Alcohol Poisoning

Shots are especially dangerous because they raise your risk of alcohol poisoning. This occurs when you drink faster than your body can process the alcohol. Taking multiple shots in a short time overwhelms your system, leading to dangerously high blood alcohol levels. Alcohol poisoning can shut down vital brain functions and is fatal for about 2,200 people each year.

There's no simple answer to how many shots can be lethal—it depends on your body chemistry, food intake, medications, and other factors. Always err on the side of caution and remember your liver processes only one drink per hour.

Shots can also cause memory lapses or "blackouts," ranging from spotty recall to complete amnesia. Blackouts usually happen at high blood alcohol levels (0.08 or above)—the legal limit for driving and often considered the threshold for being drunk.

The Bottom Line

Shots might seem like fun, but they can seriously harm your body and mind. Liquor is potent, and consuming it quickly spikes your blood alcohol levels dangerously. Taking multiple shots in a short time increases your risk of alcohol poisoning.

If you're interested in changing your drinking habits, Quitemate can help. We've supported millions of people in reducing their alcohol intake and feeling better about themselves in the process.