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Can People with Autism Drink Alcohol?

Alcohol is something that people all over the world enjoy. Whether it’s a beer on a hot summer day, a wine paired perfectly with cheese or a cocktail during a night out with friends, many people enjoy alcohol in responsible ways.

There are inherent risks to drinking alcohol, though. Some people can form a physical addiction to alcohol, and even those who don’t can be at higher risk of suffering from health conditions such as high blood pressure, liver disease, anxiety and depression.

Alcohol affects a person’s body and brain in many ways, changing everything from cognitive ability and motor coordination to mood and emotional state. That’s why drinking alcohol may not be a good idea for certain people, depending on their mental state or other challenges they face.

One question that might arise from this, then, is whether people with autism can drink alcohol. Below, we’ll discuss this topic and how alcohol can affect a person who has autism.

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Can People with Autism Drink Alcohol?

People on the autism spectrum aren’t prevented from drinking alcohol. They enjoy the same rights as other adults who are of legal age to consume alcohol.

While some people with autism may be just fine with drinking alcohol in moderation, others may find it not a good idea based on how it specifically affects them and their brain.

It’s well-known that the autistic brain operates differently from the neurotypical one. A person who has autism might process neurotransmitters quite differently than others.

Studies have shown that roughly one-quarter of children with autism have high serotonin levels, which can lead to them facing significant developmental challenges. Serotonin is responsible for regulating mood as well as behavioral patterns.

The autistic brain also might not transport dopamine typically, which could result in some of the common symptoms of autism such as lower executive planning skills and sensory sensitivities. Dopamine is responsible for the brain’s immediate pleasure and rewards system, which highly contributes to processing rewards and motivation.

How Does Alcohol Affect the Autistic Brain?

Consuming alcohol could be quite detrimental to people who have autism because of the way it specifically affects their brain — and makes some of the challenges they already face even more difficult.

Some ways in which alcohol can affect the autistic brain include …

  • Social cognition: People with autism typically face difficulties identifying, understanding and interpreting nonverbal cues such as body language, tone of voice and facial expressions. Alcohol can exacerbate these difficulties, which could put someone with autism in a compromising situation.
  • Sensory: Autism also often causes people to experience sensitivities to certain stimuli such as loud noises, bright lights or strong odors. Alcohol can heighten these sensitivities in people who have autism.
  • Emotions: Another common struggle people with ASD have is controlling and managing their emotions. Since alcohol can impact a person’s inhibitions, it could make emotional expression even more complicated.
  • Motor control: Individuals on the autism spectrum may struggle with motor control and coordination. This can become worse with alcohol, which could become very dangerous.
  • Behaviors: Alcohol can cause people to lose their inhibitions and behave unpredictably. This can become a particular concern to people who have autism, as they often already behave erratically at times and may struggle in unpredictable situations.

Should People with Autism Drink Alcohol?

All of this doesn’t mean that everyone who has autism shouldn’t drink alcohol. There are certainly some people on the autism spectrum who can do so responsibly.

There are some things that people with autism should consider if they’re going to drink alcohol, though.

First, like anyone, it’s best to drink alcohol in moderation. It’s best to start off by drinking a little bit and see how it affects you. Then, and only then, should you consider drinking more — and even then, make sure you don’t overdrink.

Having a plan when you drink alcohol is always a good idea, too — just as it is with neurotypical individuals. In addition to arranging rides home if you’re drinking outside your home, people with autism might also find it helpful to set a plan for how much they’re going to drink before they start.

Since many people with autism suffer from co-occurring conditions, it’s important that they understand how alcohol might interact with any medications they’re taking.

Finally, make sure that if you are going to drink, that you do so in an environment that is safe for you. If you struggle with sensory sensitivities related to loud noises and bright lights, for example, it would generally be a good idea to avoid crowded bars and nightclubs.

As you can see, drinking alcohol — including how much to drink, how to drink it and where to do it — is a very personal decision that should not be taken lightly if you have autism.

Blue Gems ABA Supports Children on the Autism Spectrum

People with autism can drink alcohol if they wish, but there are certain precautions that they should take if they want to do so. That’s because alcohol can make some of the common symptoms of autism worse, which can cause significant issues in some people.

At Blue Gems ABA, we support children on the autism spectrum by administering applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy. This science- and evidence-based approach to learning helps children with ASD build the social, communication and daily life skills they often struggle with, while also modifying certain negative behaviors.

We create personalized treatment plans for each of our patients that are catered specifically to their unique strengths and challenges. In doing so, we help them live happy, healthy, fulfilling and independent lives.

To learn more, please contact us today.