Alcohol intoxication is a complex pharmacological process involving multiple neurotransmitter systems and producing a host of physiological and behavioral effects (Grobin et al., 1998; Herz, 1997). As reviewed above, research, primarily from alcohol administration studies, has provided valuable insight into the subjective effects of alcohol ingestion indicating that alcohol’s effects are biphasic in nature (Earleywine, 1994a; Earleywine, 1994b; Earleywine & Martin, 1993; Erblich et al., 2003; Martin et al., 1993). It has been documented that during the ascending limb of intoxication alcohol produces robust stimulatory and other pleasurable subjective effects, whereas during the descending limb alcohol’s effects are predominantly sedative and unpleasant (Earleywine & Martin, 1993; Erblich et al., 2003).
