Posted by Kava has been a cultural drink of the Pacific Islands for centuries. It provides a way to unwind and socialize without using alcohol, coffee, and other caffeinated drinks and opioids.
One of the questions that keeps turning up in conversations about botanicals is, Does kava get you drunk? If you have sipped a bowl at a kava bar or seen kava-based beverages on shelves, you have probably wondered the same thing.
Personally, I was worried about getting a kava hangover, but the experience was different. The short answer to whether kava can get you drunk is no. Kava is different from alcohol, so don’t expect to get wasted after drowning one or two shells of your favorite kava drink cocktail.
One of the highlights of kava drinks is that they don’t impair judgment as alcohol does, but they share some similarities, like a relaxed social buzz and a mellow feeling.
What’s in Kava Drinks That Affects How You Feel
The first thing to note about kava is that it’s brewed from the root of Piper methysticum, a tree native to the Pacific Islands, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Hawaii. The main active compounds responsible for the relaxed and mellow feeling you get after a kava drink are called kavalactones.
These compounds interact with neurotransmitters in your brain, in particular, the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which controls the nervous system. The interaction results in reduced tension and a calm sense of ease in your mind and body.
How Kava Feels Compared to Alcohol
Kava doesn’t contain ethanol, one of the harmful compounds in alcohol that depresses the central nervous system and leads to impaired judgment. Here are some of the reported and scientifically proven effects of kava.
- Calmness and relaxation are the most common effects, with most users reporting that tension melts away without mental fog or major changes in clarity of thought.
- A gentle mood lift that is different from coffee and caffeinated drinks. Some refer to it as a mild euphoria or sense of well-being.
- Muscle relaxation, especially after a heavy session
- Mouth numbness, though rare, has also been reported by some users.
Most researchers describe the effects of kava as anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and sedative rather than intoxicating in the alcohol sense.
Then, Why Do People Say Kava Is “Like Being Drunk”
I recently overheard a friend describe kava as “like a few drinks.” That comparison is probably because of the relaxing feeling it causes, not because it’s intoxicating.
Here is what we know about kava drinks.
- Small to moderate doses shift your body and mood into a relaxed state that is calmer than what alcohol causes.
- At high doses, kava can potentially impair balance and reduce fine motor skills. The effects are similar to alcohol in that narrow window before full impairment sets in.
- Some users report they feel floaty, sleepy, and emotionally mellow in ways that remind them of a drunk state when they take too much kava.
But that resemblance to alcohol has limits. Alcohol typically affects multiple brain systems, including areas tied to judgment, inhibition, and memory. Kava’s effects are more selective and usually don’t produce slurred speech or heavy memory disruption the way alcohol does.
If you have tried kratom, check out this review of the best kratom kava shot, to get the best of both worlds.
How Long Do Kava Effects Last
Typically, kava onset is 15 to 30 minutes after consumption, and the effects can last up to 4 hours, depending on the kava variety, your tolerance, and dose.
Unlike alcohol, which often leads to hangovers and dehydration, most people do not get typical aftereffects from kava. You might feel a bit drowsy or relaxed the next day, but it isn’t the same as a hangover. Sadly, some people refer to this as a kava hangover, but it’s NOT.
Check out this kava dosage guide for information on how to get the best kava experience.
How Kava Dose and Quality Influence the Outcome
Your experience of kava drinks depends on two main things:
How much kava you drink
Expect a mild relaxation after drinking a couple of kava shells (standard serving units). Too many shells can result in stronger body relaxation and sedation.
Type of kava and preparation process
Traditional kava drinks are made by extracting the active compounds from the roots using water. This process results in an authentic, earthy kava drink that delivers smoother effects at moderate doses.
The explosion of kava bars has resulted in commercial blends whose strength and potency vary. Most kava bars rarely disclose the true ingredients or recommended serving amounts, leading to harsh side effects.
Concisely, good quality kava feels more grounding and clearer than alcohol, even if some physical effects like muscle relaxation seem similar.
So, Will I Get Drunk After Taking Kava?
No, not in the classic sense. Kava drinks don’t intoxicate the way alcohol does. It won’t make you slur words, stagger, or blackout. But at the right dose, it does make many people feel relaxed, socially open, and physically mellow in ways that can feel similar to mild alcohol effects.
What’s your experience with kava drinks? Do you like earthy taste and after-effects? Share in the comment section.