Scientifically, alcohol does not make you more intoxicated on a plane in terms of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), but it definitely feels like it does. In 2026, aerospace medicine explains this through the "altitude effect" or mild hypoxia. Aircraft cabins are typically pressurized to an altitude of 6,000 to 8,000 feet; at this level, there is less oxygen in your blood, which can make you feel lightheaded or dizzy. When you add alcohol—a depressant—to this low-oxygen environment, the symptoms of "buzz" or impairment are amplified, making you feel drunker than you would at sea level after the same number of drinks. Furthermore, the extremely low humidity (often below 10%) on a plane causes rapid dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it compounds this dehydration, leading to more severe headaches and a much worse "hangover" effect before you even land. For these reasons, 2026 health guidelines for travelers recommend the "1-for-1" rule: one full glass of water for every alcoholic beverage consumed, as the physiological strain of flying makes your body significantly less efficient at processing toxins.