I heard this is true, and am feeling it tonight in Colorado.
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Elevation results in thinner air, and therefore less oxygen in your blood. Alcohol also thins your blood. This effect is known as hypoxia. If you drink with already thin blood, you’re basically getting a headstart.
This is a popular folksy myth. Especially told in places like Colorado where it’s a fun thing to tell the people visiting. There’s no science behind it.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/does-altitude-affect-how-you-react-to-alcohol
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ELI5 answer: oxygen is (one thing) that keeps your body and brain functioning normally. Higher elevation settings have less oxygen. Alcohol screws up your body’s ability to efficiently use oxygen. Your body has two things (less oxygen, being drunk) going against it in terms of oxygen usage—-instead of just one (being drunk)
You don’t have more alcohol in your blood, but it could very well seem that way. Scientifically, I don’t know how impactful each 1000m of elevation is.
It might be worth asking r/askscience how much of this is about oxygen consumption vs placebo effect vs something else.
I was doing Lantang Trek in the Himalayas few years back. In one of the stops which was around 4,200m elevation, i decided to have 2 shots of a good single malt whiskey. Hoping that would warm up my body as it was -6°C. Couldnt remember much after. Woke up next day, with a slight headache. Asked my friends what happened and they told me i was talking loudly, laughing a lot and offered everyone in the inn a drink. I was pretty much drunk, they said. I’d made a fool of myself and lesson was learnt. 1 shot was my limit.
Alcoholic drinks get economical at higher altitudes. The elevation, fatigue and dehydration did play a part.
I grew up in Boulder, drank a lot in Boulder, moved to the coast, drank a lot of alcohol. Came back six months later for the holidays and drank a lot the first night, was blackout drunk in an hour. I never believed it until then.
It doesn’t. Any effects are likely placebo.
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/health/02real.html
Higher elevations are also drier and the diuretic effect of alcohol makes the dehydration more pronounced.
Currently camping at 9000 ft. It’s not just alcohol, the elevation fucks with my sleep. Every damn time I’m here. I:17 in the morning and I can’t stay asleep, just like last night and the night before.
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