How does alcohol affect my sleep?

    Written by:

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Alcohol may initially help with sleep onset, but its effects fade with continued use, and it consistently impairs sleep quality.

    At first, alcohol can help you fall asleep, but this effect fades off after a few days if you keep drinking close to bedtime.[1] And right from the start, it will impair the quality of your sleep.[2][3] Ironically, alcohol-use disorders have even been linked to insomnia, though their being cause or consequence is uncertain.[1]

    In short, don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid — it might help you relax, but it will impair the quality of your sleep. You may find it beneficial to avoid alcohol after dinner.