Drunkenness is the result of an elevated level of ethanol in the body affecting cognitive and motor activities. 

• The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) defines “drunkenness” by its symptoms.
• At low doses of intake, alcohol acts as a stimulant; at higher doses, it becomes a depressant.
• For the purposes of harm reduction and prevention, it may be necessary to define two distinct states: One that has been called “simple drunkenness;” and the other, referred to as “acute intoxication,” a clinical condition that often requires admission to an emergency room and may have long-lasting effects.

Different individuals may become “drunk” at different levels of consumption and blood alcohol concentration. 

• Such factors as age, gender, body size, ethnicity, general health, mood state, use of medication, or experience with drinking play a role in the degree of intoxication and the rate at which it occurs.
• Heavy drinkers and those with a family history of dependence appear to be more sensitive to the stimulant effects of alcohol at lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, and less sensitive to alcohol’s effects at higher BACs.
• Drunkenness also includes a largely subjective component that cannot be easily defined by the number of drinks consumed.
• The only objective assessment of drunkenness is provided by its legal definition for the purposes of certain behaviors, such as alcohol-impaired driving, where definitions in terms of BAC limits leave little room for interpretation.

Drunkenness and alcohol-related problems

Intoxication, particularly when it is repeated, is associated with increased risk for the following: 

• injury and emergency room admission;
• certain cardiovascular problems;
• neurological problems and dementia;
• accidents and greater severity of such accidents;
• traffic fatalities;
• fetal alcohol syndrome and effects;
• at extremely high levels of intake, acute alcohol poisoning.

In addition, heavy drinking is also correlated with social outcomes such as loss of productivity and absenteeism.

Drunkenness and culture

Drunken behavior is not tolerated in some cultures, except in certain well-defined contexts and on occasions that are considered to be “times-out.” In other cultures, drunkenness may be positively valued and even sought as a desirable outcome of drinking.

Most cultures view drunkenness as more permissible in men than in women.

A certain level of drunkenness may be viewed as permissible during special celebrations or holidays in some cultures. 

Drunkenness may be allowed within a religious context, to enhance sociability, demonstrate hospitality or largesse, stimulate or sustain collective work-efforts, celebrate special events, or otherwise enhance personal or social wellbeing.

Implications for policy and prevention

In developing policy and prevention efforts, drunkenness requires special attention through a focus on: 

• drinking patterns of certain groups at particular risk;
• situations where drunkenness is likely to occur;
• settings that contribute to heavy drinking patterns;
• education that provides information about alcohol and its effects;
• implementation and enforcement of laws around issues such as alcohol-impaired driving;
• diagnosis and treatment for those whose drunken behavior is chronic and may be indicative of larger problems.