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Can alcohol really cause people to blackout?

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Question - (23 July 2014) 14 Answers - (Newest, 24 July 2014)
A male United Kingdom age 30-35, anonymous writes:

Hello

I was wondering as people claim they had a blackout after drinking excessively and didn't know what happened, is it real or just a way to avoid embarrassment?

I have actually never had a blackout or a moment even with extreme drinking where I didn't know what was happening unless I pass out.

What do you think?

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A female reader, anonymous, writes (24 July 2014):

I never blacked out to the point that I don't remember if I slept wit a guy or not, but frankly I sometime couldnt remember the 2 final hours of the night. Not like totally, but episods I didn't remember. For example I didn't remember giving my number to a guy. who I danced with, what I said,and who gotme a taxi, and actually not even remembering how I got upstairs into my bedroom.

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A female reader, YouWish United States +, writes (24 July 2014):

YouWish agony auntI agree with Honeypie and the others. Tell her what happened, including that you didn't and would never take advantage of someone that intoxicated. She's most likely looking at you that way possibly out of embarrassment wondering if she did sleep with you, and given your sheepishness, she may think that it's confirmation.

So just end the assumptions on both sides and tell her the truth. By the way, bravo to you for not taking advantage. That is the mark of a *real* man. People like you redeem my faith in the human race!

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A female reader, Honeypie United States + , writes (24 July 2014):

Honeypie agony auntYep, just tell her, you were drunk, and I put you in the spare bedroom, you hit on me, but I walked away, a decent man doesn't take advantage of a drunk woman.

She might remember snippets such as hitting on you or waking up in an unfamiliar bed.... - which is why I would make sure she understand that she was left to her own devices because you know right from wrong.

I can't see why you WOULDN'T tell her. I bet you she would appreciate what you did. And mostly, what you DIDN'T do.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (23 July 2014):

I agree with So Very Confused. Why didn't you just tell her she was ridiculously, if not dangerously, intoxicated. So you put her to bed to sleep it off. That's all need be said.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (23 July 2014):

Yes, alcohol can cause a person to lose consciousness, and they may not recall segments of time; or activity during that time.

That is very dangerous. Drinking that much can cause severe gastritis, brain damage, alcohol poisoning, and liver damage.

The damage can be gradual or immediate. You have to consume a lot of alcohol to "blackout." It's drug-related amnesia.

Similar to the symptoms of anterograde amnesia. You cannot recall events or actions during intoxication; and you would be at the mercy of of anyone around you. I shutter to think.

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A female reader, anonymous, writes (23 July 2014):

It is very real!!!

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A female reader, So_Very_Confused United States +, writes (23 July 2014):

So_Very_Confused agony auntShe's asking you how she got in the guest room...

why can't you just say "you were drunk and I put you there to sleep it off?"

what am I missing?

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A female reader, YouWish United States +, writes (23 July 2014):

YouWish agony auntAbsolutely they can happen, as can "gray-outs", meaning you only remember snippets of a block of time. I've had one blackout when I was a teenager after playing a stupid drinking game involving Everclear and Grape Kool-Aid.

From what I've heard, the threshold is different for everyone and it makes a difference whether or not the person has had blackouts before. There's also a big pattern regarding the speed at which the blood alcohol content rises and blackouts. In my case, drinking Everclear fast shot it up really high and wham.

Anything can be used as an excuse for bad behavior. But blackouts are real. If a guy cheats while in a blackout, he's still accountable.

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A female reader, ImissFuturama United States +, writes (23 July 2014):

ImissFuturama agony auntYou may just have a strong tolerance level to alcohol. But yes, it's possible for people to black out, or have trouble remembering stuff the next day.

There are some people who lie about this to get out of facing the consequences of something they did while drunk. However, just because some do this doesn't mean ANYONE who claims to have blacked out is a liar.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (23 July 2014):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Thank you for your insight.

How would you look into if I'd say, a girl who I just met at the party was quite drunk when i found her some time later and because of her awkwardness, I just escorted her to the bedroom upstairs. She was all over me but because she was not in control, I just closed the door and went away.

Now she claims she doesn't remember a thing but at the same time I feel she looks at me differently that I didn't take any advantage of her sitution. Regardless, she's asking me how she got into my guest room.

What do you reckon? Is she embarrassed or she actually does not remember me helping her to bedroom upstairs. I have not told anyone about it.

Should I explain what happened if she asks or just think she's pretending?

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A reader, anonymous, writes (23 July 2014):

It is well known that alcohol causes black outs, especially in alcoholics who binge. It can also kill you if you drink enough.

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A female reader, Honeypie United States + , writes (23 July 2014):

Honeypie agony auntYes it can. I have had blackouts. I have left a club without remembering and some how finding my way home ( about 2 miles) waking up with my front door wide open ( I lived in a stairwell at the time, so you had to be buzzed in to get into the building) but still... I have absolutely no recollection. of leaving the club (left my friends and my jacket there too).

That was just one of several. But it was the one that made me quit drinking.

However, I have NEVER did anything overtly embarrassing (other than being way way drunk and one time doing kareoke...) ( I asked friends and people who were with me those night).

I think SOME people will claim to have had a blackout to avoid the consequences of their actions.

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A female reader, anonymous, writes (23 July 2014):

Everyone's alcohol intake is different. How alcohol affects a person's body also varies at certain areas. Some people drink too much and with added excitement, adrenaline, etc...they can pass out once they're spent. This is why when people who get sexually taken advantage of or worse, raped, when they're intoxicated can't remember what happened to them. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they remember bits and pieces. Sometimes they remember nothing and it's not always because of a date rape drug....Or are you going to question whether these victims and are lying?

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A female reader, So_Very_Confused United States +, writes (23 July 2014):

So_Very_Confused agony auntYes excessive alcohol consumption can and does cause blackouts... it means they do not remember their behavior at all.

I have recorded my husband on occasion and the next day when he is sober shown it to him and he has NO CLUE he was saying or doing what he said or did.

Just because you don't have blackouts does not mean they do not occur.

I myself have never had one.. but then I do not consume excessive alcohol on a regular basis.

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