Thinking about mixing CBD and alcohol? Technically yes, you can. But should you? That's where it gets murky.
Some people combine them without issues. Others feel more tired or off-balance than expected. There are fewer human studies on it than you would expect.
The research says the interaction is minimal. It does not say it is safe.
What happens in your body
CBD and alcohol both slow down brain activity and help you relax. They're what's called central nervous system depressants. The concern is that combining them might amplify that relaxed feeling into something overwhelming – though interestingly, the evidence for this is pretty thin.
Both are processed through your liver using the same enzymes (CYP450), which can affect how your body handles each substance.
An early study from 1979 found that people taking CBD with alcohol had similar impairment to alcohol alone – the researchers noted there were "few differences" between the two. A more recent 2023 study backed this up, finding CBD had "minimal influence" on alcohol's effects.
There is more recent work, but it is pointed elsewhere. A 2025 paper in Neuropsychopharmacology looked at alcohol dependence and withdrawal, in rodents. That is the pattern across the field: the research goes to dependence rather than to someone having a glass of wine alongside their drops, which is part of why the everyday answer is so thin.
The potential risks
It is worth being careful, even though the evidence isn't conclusive. Here's why:
- Extra drowsiness – Both can make you sleepy on their own. Together? The effect might be stronger, especially if you're new to CBD or drinking more than usual
- Impaired coordination – Alcohol definitely affects your motor skills. CBD probably doesn't make this worse, but we can't rule it out
- Lower blood pressure – alcohol widens blood vessels and CBD may do the same, which could cause dizziness
- Judgement – alcohol affects this on its own and it is the reason to be careful about what else you take alongside it
If you're going to mix them anyway
We're not here to tell you how to live your life. But if you do mix CBD and alcohol:
- Start low – Keep doses small for both and see how you feel. Our dosage calculator is a reasonable starting point
- Try CBD alone first – Know how your oil affects you before adding alcohol to the equation
- Don't mix with other medication – Especially sedatives or anything processed by your liver
- Space them out – Wait a few hours between CBD and alcohol if possible
The bottom line
Can you mix CBD and alcohol? Yes. Should you? Probably not regularly.
When in doubt, keep them separate.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.
Sources
- Consroe et al. (1979). Interaction of cannabidiol and alcohol in humans
- Psychopharmacology (2023). Cannabidiol and alcohol co-administration
- Turna, J. et al. (2025). Cannabidiol mitigates alcohol dependence and withdrawal with neuroprotective effects in the basolateral amygdala and striatum. Neuropsychopharmacology.