Key Takeaways
● Tequila is a depressant like all alcoholic beverages, affecting the central nervous system by slowing brain activity, not stimulating it.
● Despite its party reputation, tequila’s effects, like euphoria or hyperactivity, stem from drinking patterns and social context, not from the liquor itself.
● My Time Recovery offers personalized alcohol addiction treatment for individuals struggling with excessive tequila or alcohol use, promoting long-term recovery and wellness.
Many people believe tequila gives them an energetic “buzz,” but is that really the case? At My Time Recovery, we’re here to clear up the confusion. Tequila is often linked to lively parties and upbeat moods. However, the truth is that it functions as a depressant, just like all forms of alcohol. If you’re questioning your own drinking habits, it’s important to understand how alcohol truly affects the body and mind. My Time Recovery provides expert guidance to help you or a loved one make informed, healthier choices.
What is Tequila?
Tequila is a distilled liquor that is made from the fermented juices of the Weber blue agave plant. It’s one of the most popular spirits worldwide but is most commonly consumed in the United States and Mexico. Tequila is consumed in a variety of ways, including popular cocktails like the margarita. However, it’s most famously known for being taken in shots. What sets tequila apart from other liquors is its distinct production process. To be considered true tequila, it must be produced in specific regions of Mexico.
The Weber blue agave plant (Agave tequilana) is a member of the lily family. It looks similar to an aloe vera plant but is much larger and it has sharp barbs on the tips. The agave plant can be harvested after seven to ten years of growth. As the plant grows, it produces a bulb underground that looks like a white pineapple, called a piña (the Spanish word for pineapple). At harvest, the plant’s leaves are removed, and the piña is quartered. The pieces are slowly baked until the starches within are converted to sugar. The baked agave pieces are then crushed, and the juices extracted, to which yeast is added for fermentation. This converts the sugar into alcohol.
There are five different types of tequila that vary based on where the agave is grown and how they are finished. Clear tequilas, called blanco tequila, are unaged and the purest. Gold tequilas are also unaged but are mixed with caramel or other additives. Reposado (rested, in Spanish) tequilas are aged for at least two months, often three to nine months, in wood casks. Añejo (old) tequilas are aged for 18 months to three years in oak barrels or used bourbon barrels. The fifth, and most recent, type of tequila to hit the shelves is designated extra-añejo. This tequila is aged for over three years in oak barrels, making it extra old.
You may have also heard about mezcal being related to tequila. It’s a distilled spirit that is also made from the agave plant. Technically speaking, tequila is a type of mezcal, but the reverse isn’t always true – not all mezcals are tequila. This is much like how scotch and bourbon are both types of whiskey. The main difference between tequila and mezcal is how the agave is processed. With mezcal, it’s traditional to bake the piñas in earthen pits.
Why is Tequila a Depressant?
Despite the fact that you may have seen people drinking tequila get raucous and overly energetic, it is a depressant. This is because it is a form of alcohol, or ethanol, which is the same intoxicating ingredient in wine, beer, and other liquors. The alcohol molecule is the same in all types of alcoholic drinks.
You may see it implied that there is something about tequila that makes people act differently after they have a few beers or drink wine. This just isn’t true, the alcohol in beer, wine, and tequila all affect the brain in the same way. However, how you drink these beverages can play a huge part in how you behave. For example, when someone drinks tequila it’s often in the form of shots, taken in fairly short succession, but when someone has wine, it’s often sipped over time as a means to relax.
Tequila Effects – How Strong is Tequila?
Ethanol depresses the central nervous system, which means that it has a calming or sleep-inducing effect. However, the effects that you feel depend on the amount you consume as well as the situation you are in. When you drink in smaller amounts, alcohol can have a euphoric effect.
Tequila, which is often associated with heavy binge drinking, has developed a reputation for making any occasion more rowdy and wild. If you are having tequila in cocktails, it may also be the amount of sugar in the mixer that spikes your blood sugar levels and alters your mood.
Tequilas usually have 38 to 40 percent alcohol content, which is 76 to 80 proof. This is similar to other types of liquor, such as vodka and whiskey.
Is Tequila Good for You?
Whether tequila is good for you or not depends on who you ask. There have been studies done to try to determine this, both scientific and pseudoscientific. Some say that tequila is effective for everything from weight loss to increased bone strength. However, there isn’t any definitive proof that tequila is good for you, and there are health risks that, in fact, prove the opposite. The biggest health risk is alcohol addiction, which can cause all kinds of problems – physically, emotionally, mentally, and relationally.
Doctors tend to agree that no one should drink tequila for the health benefits they think they will get from it. Instead, they should eat a healthy diet, exercise, and drink in moderation. Moderation is considered to be one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. In this recommendation, a drink is defined as a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor, or a cocktail that contains a total of 1.5 ounces of liquor.
Tequila vs. Vodka
Vodka is a clear, distilled liquor that originated in Russia and Poland, but has become the top-selling liquor in the U.S. for many years. Vodka is made traditionally with potatoes, though it’s now common for it to be made from grains like wheat or rye. You may also find some vodkas that are made with rice, corn, fruit, or just straight sugar.
Vodka is made by mixing the starch or grain with yeast for fermentation. The resulting liquid that’s produced is about 16 percent alcohol content, or 32 proof. That isn’t high enough to be considered a spirit, so the liquid then goes through a distillation process to bring it up to 40 percent alcohol content, or 80 proof.
There are some major differences between tequila and vodka, though they are both distilld spirits:
● Tequila is made from the blue agave plant and vodka is made from a starch or sugar-rich plant.
● Tequila is distilled into five different types, while vodka only has one form.
● Tequila has a varied taste and vodka doesn’t.
● Vodka is consumed more in the U.S. than tequila.
● Tequila is more expensive than vodka.
Final Thoughts
Drinking any alcohol excessively, including tequila, can lead to serious health problems. Even overindulging occasionally can have negative effects. Alcohol is inflammatory, which means it can cause digestive problems and nervous system issues. It can also impact your blood sugar and increase the risks of mouth, colon, and breast cancer. Drinking too much may also lead to alcoholism, which can be devastating for you, your friends, and your family.
If you choose to drink tequila, do so responsibly and in moderation. And if you believe you are currently addicted to alcohol, Call My Time Recovery Today!
FAQs
1. Why does tequila feel like a stimulant?
Tequila may feel like a stimulant because it can initially create a sense of euphoria, energy, and lowered inhibitions. This is due to its impact on the brain’s reward system and dopamine release. However, as alcohol continues to affect the central nervous system, it ultimately slows down brain and body functions—confirming its role as a depressant.
2. Is tequila a depressant or suppressant?
Tequila is a depressant, not a suppressant. It slows down activity in the central nervous system, affecting coordination, reaction time, and decision-making. Despite the temporary “high,” its long-term effect is sedating, like all alcoholic beverages.
3. What is the only alcohol that isn’t a depressant?
There is no type of alcohol that acts as a stimulant. All forms of alcohol, including tequila, vodka, rum, and beer, are classified as depressants because of their sedative effects on the nervous system. The myth that certain alcohols act as stimulants is based on short-term mood changes, not actual pharmacological effects.
4. Does tequila contain stimulants?
No, tequila does not contain any stimulants. It is made from the blue agave plant and contains ethanol, a depressant substance. Any feelings of increased energy or mood are short-lived and give way to the depressant effects of alcohol.
5. Is tequila the healthiest alcohol?
Tequila is sometimes marketed as a “healthier” option because it contains fewer congeners (byproducts of fermentation) and may be made from 100% agave. While it might be easier on the body for some people compared to other liquors, no alcohol is truly healthy. Drinking in moderation—or not at all—is always the best choice for overall health, especially for those in recovery. At My Time Recovery, we encourage informed, mindful decisions about alcohol use.
