You wake up after a couple of drinks, and it’s not a hangover. Not really. You’re fine. Functional. But something feels off in a way that’s hard to pin down. Your face looks a little puffier than usual. Your stomach’s not thrilled. Mentally, it takes longer to get moving than it should. In terms of an explanation, most people default to dehydration or sleep. Fair. Alcohol impacts both of those things. But those explanations don’t quite cover the whole picture.
Alcohol interacts with your gut in ways that are pretty well documented—it just doesn’t always get explained in a way that connects to what people are experiencing day to day. Here’s a quick reality quick on what’s actually happening with your gut when you drink.
You make a plan, maybe even feel good about it, and then a few days later, you’re right back in the same pattern. That’s the part New York Times-bestselling author Nir Eyal is interested in. Not the “what,” but the why not.
Let’s say you’re out somewhere. Drinks are around, people are talking, and for a while you’re just… in it. Then your attention sort of slides sideways. You start noticing things you weren’t paying attention to a second ago. Someone’s drink is still half full. Someone else hasn’t gone back for another. And then your brain does that thing. Wait… why does this look so easy for them?
Many of us have a working theory about our drinking patterns. But when you zoom out and look at the research, the story doesn’t always line up as neatly as you’d expect. Here are seven findings that might shift your thinking.
For a long time, the conversation around alcohol has been pretty binary. You either drink… or you don’t. You either have control… or you don’t. But that framing doesn’t work for everyone. Honestly, it probably never did. And now there’s more space opening up in the middle.
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About Sunnyside
Sunnyside is a comprehensive platform for building a healthier relationship with alcohol. We combine a behavior-change app, real human coaching, and Sunnyside Med — our Telehealth service where licensed providers can prescribe medication to help reduce alcohol cravings. Members using the Sunnyside app report an average 33% reduction in weekly alcohol consumption, and Sunnyside Med customers are reducing their drinking by nearly 50% on average — along with improved sleep, better mental clarity, and an overall improved sense of well-being.
What is Naltrexone? Naltrexone is a medication that works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, which reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol and helps decrease cravings. Originally approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of alcohol dependence, Naltrexone has been shown in clinical studies to significantly reduce heavy drinking days and support long-term moderation. Sunnyside Med prescribes a compounded oral formulation containing Naltrexone as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes coaching, tracking, and ongoing medical support.
Sunnyside Med connects you with licensed medical providers who can prescribe compounded medication containing Naltrexone, an active ingredient that is FDA-approved to support alcohol moderation, through a private Telehealth process. Sunnyside Med is not a substitute for emergency services or inpatient treatment. If you are in crisis or experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, please contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or call 911. We are proud partners of Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol.
Alcohol Moderation guides