How Alcohol Affects Memory

Memory is divided is into retrospective (long-term) and prospective or working (short-term) memory. Retrospective memory is remembering all events and episodes that have happened in our lifetime.

Alcohol tends to affect short-term or prospective memory more often.Prospective memory is day-to-day brain function, specifically, remembering to complete daily activities.

Anyone can forget things from time to time, however, people who consume heavy amounts of alcohol have a tendency to make more memory mistakes thanthose who do not drink at allor those who do not drink on a regular basis. These mistakes can include recalling whether they had completed a task, such as locking the car or switching off the stove or forgetting where they put things.

Other examples of impairment of day-to-day memory can include:

Mechanism of Action

Alcohol hinders theability of the brainto transfer information from short-term memory to long-term storage. It is like a delivery truck on a route that gets sidetracked and never makes it to its destination. The delivery never made it; a person simply cannot remember things. These effects are most noticeable when a person isintoxicated.

People who drink heavily on a regular basis can damage a brain structure called thehippocampus. It is critical to memory and learning, and heavy drinking can cause the hippocampus to shrink.

One brain chemical system particularly susceptible to even small amounts of alcohol is called glutamate. Among other things, glutamate affects memory and may contribute to what causes some people to temporarily “blackout,” or forget much of what happened during a night of heavy drinking.

Alcohol Amount and Memory

For a study published inAlcoholism: Clinical & Experiment Research, researchers looked at the amount of alcohol consumed and its effect on day-to-day memory. The research showed a typically heavier drinker reported more than 30% more memory-related issues than someone who reportedly did not drink, and almost 25% more issues than those who stated they drank only small amounts of alcohol.

More specifically, those in the study who reportedhigher levels of alcohol consumptionwere more likely to miss appointments and important dates like birthdays—or forget to pay bills on time. Even in cases where those in the study stayed within a healthy drinking limit, researchers found a significant increase in memory loss issues.

Ways to Recover Memory

Researchers are looking at multiple ways to help those who have experienced memory loss torecover brain function. Future event simulation (FES) is a memory technique involving strategies such as making linked and indexed lists. A study inPsychopharmacologyin 2016 showed that FES helped people remember event-based tasks, but not time-based tasks.

Other National Institutes of Health reports have shown that abstaining from alcohol over several months to a year may allow structural brain changes to partially correct. Abstinence also can help reverse negative effects on thinking skills, including problem­ solving, memory, and attention.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.

Ling J, Heffernan TM, Buchanan T, Rodgers J, Scholey AB, Parrott AC.Effects of Alcohol on Subjective Ratings of Prospective and Everyday Memory Deficits.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(6):970-974. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000071741.63467.CB

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.Alcoholism’s short-term effects on memory functioning are harmful. ScienceDaily.White A.What happened? Alcohol, memory blackouts, and the brain?Alcohol Research & Health. 2003;27(2):186-196.

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.Alcoholism’s short-term effects on memory functioning are harmful. ScienceDaily.

White A.What happened? Alcohol, memory blackouts, and the brain?Alcohol Research & Health. 2003;27(2):186-196.

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