Everyone experiences diarrhea on occasion.

Bacterial or viral infection, chronic illness, and even things we eat or drink can lead to diarrhea.

Alcohol is a common cause of diarrhea and other digestive problems.

diarrhea after alcohol - Friends toasting glasses with red wine in wedding party at winery on sunny day

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

Thepyloric valveseparates the stomach from the small intestine and remains closed when digesting food.

This is why you process alcohol more slowly when you have food in your stomach.

When alcohol enters the small intestine, absorption speeds up even more.

Alcohol can pass through your intestines quickly.

Typically, the intestines remove excess liquid from waste before you excrete it as stool.

Most of the alcohol metabolism takes place in the liver.

Unlike your intestines, your liver doesn’t speed up to process alcohol.

Even a few drinks can lead toshort-termdigestive problems.

Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to permanent esophagus, stomach, and liver damage.

Bowel diseases don’t just cause problems like diarrhea.

Which Alcohols Cause Diarrhea More Than Others?

Not all alcoholic drinks are created equal.

Carbonated drinks and drinks with higher alcohol content can have more potent effects on your body.

It can also depend on what other ingredients your drink contains.

Drinks that are less likely totrigger irritationgenerally include less sugar and other irritants.

However, diarrhea that lasts more than several days or occurs often can signal more significant problems.

If you drink often, you may experience ongoing gastrointestinal problems.

2020;68(5):965-971. doi:10.1136/jim-2020-001327.

California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.Alcohol facts.

American Addiction Centers.Alcoholic gastritis causes, symptoms & treatment.

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Common causes of chronic diarrhea.

2023; 15(7):1571. doi.org/10.3390/nu15071571.

Bishehsari F, Magno E, Swanson G, et al.Alcohol and gut-derived inflammation.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Fernandez-Banares F.Carbohydrate maldigestion and intolerance.Nutrients.

May 2022;14(9):1923. doi: 10.3390/nu14091923.

Alcohol Rehab Help.Alcohol and diarrhea.