How Anger And Alcohol Use Can Fuel Each Other

Many people drink alcohol with the aim of relaxing and enjoying themselves. Yet, for some, it seems to have the opposite effect, leading to anger and aggression. This shift can be so dramatic that it might seem like a completely different personality has taken over. What is behind this apparent link between the effects of alcohol and anger?

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Can alcohol cause anger?

According to the American Psychological Association, the effects of anger have the potential to lead to substance and alcohol use (formerly substance and alcohol “abuse”) in addition to impaired decision-making and several other mental and physical health concerns. Individuals might begin drinking alcohol to self-medicate for anger, which may in turn increase their anger, creating a cycle that’s hard to escape. 

The phenomenon of alcohol-related angry behavior is so well known that it has created a cultural stereotype: the “angry drunk” who quickly becomes hostile after a few drinks. But does alcohol actually cause anger?

While this potential connection is a common stereotype, researchers have not yet reached a definitive conclusion on the matter. One study states that there is “weak support for biased anger perception following acute alcohol consumption.” Scientists have yet to determine if alcohol causes anger or if a person’s tendency toward anger is exacerbated by alcohol consumption.

Alcohol, inhibition, and anger

There are good reasons to think that pre-existing personality factors play a major role in how a person acts when drinking — after all, not everyone gets angry when they consume alcohol. One studyOneo found that people, particularly men, are more likely to become aggressive after consuming alcohol if they show a predisposition to anger on personality tests.

It may be that rather than making people angry, alcohol makes people who are prone to anger more likely to act on those feelings. This idea aligns with the understanding that drinking reduces behavioral inhibitions. That is, people who are intoxicated often engage in behaviors they would not when sober.

Alcohol and aggression

While the two may overlap in some ways, anger and aggression are separate terms. Put simply, anger is a feeling, and aggression is an action.

The above-discussed patterns are potential effects of short-term alcohol consumption, but these may intensify in people who drink excessively for long periods. A 2021 review of the existing research on this topic noted that long-term alcohol use results in structural changes to parts of the brain associated with factors like:

• Self-control

• Impulsivity

• Emotional processing

• Decision-making

These shifts could mean that heavy drinkers may become less able to manage their anger and more prone to act on it over time. One study states that “there is little debate [that] the pharmacological effects of alcohol cause aggressive behavior.” Studies repeatedly link alcohol consumption with violent crimes, including instances of aggravated assault, rape, and homicide. The following are some statistics that link alcohol consumption with violent crime:

• A 2013 study of New York alcohol outlets concluded that for every one-hour increase in weekly business hours, aggravated assaults and non-gun violence increased significantly, even after controlling for outlet density.

• 27% of all aggravated assaults are committed by individuals who have used alcohol. This percentage more than doubles when restricted to instances of domestic violence.

• On average, 48% of homicide offenders are reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense.

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Other factors that can affect alcohol-related aggression

Researchers have identified several other factors that may increase the likelihood of post-alcohol consumption aggression. One is a mental orientation toward the present rather than the future. Though “living in the moment” is often lauded as a positive trait, researchers found that individuals who were more focused on the present were also more likely to respond aggressively to irritations after consuming alcohol.

Your beliefs about alcohol may also play a role: A 2012 study stated that a person is more likely to become angry when drinking if that is what they expect to happen. People raised in environments where alcohol often accompanies violence might be predisposed to hostility when they drink.

Another potentially important personality trait is rumination, meaning a tendency to dwell on negative feelings and distressing experiences. Researchers have reported that people who show high levels of rumination are more likely to act out aggressively when consuming alcohol. 

Can anger lead to heavier alcohol use?

Individuals who experience a strong tendency toward anger may turn to alcohol in an attempt to elevate their mood or distract themselves from their feelings. Alcohol is often used as a self-management tool in the absence of other self-management tools or capabilities. When used excessively, this method of self-management can lead to alcohol use disorder and comorbid mental and physical health disorders, such as depression, which is also a known risk factor for substance use disorders.

There is also some evidence that people with higher baseline levels of anger may have a harder time recovering from alcohol use disorder. A study following 100 individuals undergoing treatment found that those who scored higher on personality measures of anger were more likely to relapse within a year. 

These tendencies can create a loop in which people drink to avoid their anger but instead deteriorate their mental health, leading them to turn again to alcohol for reprieve. 

Managing alcohol use and anger

If chronic anger and alcohol use reinforce each other, how can a person break out of this cycle? The following are a few coping strategies that might help. Please note that, especially in crisis cases, these coping mechanisms are not an appropriate substitute for professional help.

• Avoid dwelling on the things that make you angry.

Since ruminating on unpleasant thoughts can fuel alcohol-related aggression, learning to let things go may be key to improving. If you catch yourself mentally replaying scenarios where other people have hurt or angered you, you can try turning your thoughts to something more positive. It might help to remind yourself that dwelling on the sources of your anger will likely cause you unnecessary pain.

• Practice self-compassion.

How often have you started a fight with someone close to you and then realized that you are actually angry with yourself? Anger and aggressive behavior often stem from feelings of shame. You may be able to defuse these feelings by deliberately forgiving yourself for past mistakes or poor choices. If you find it difficult to address yourself, you can imagine you are addressing a close friend instead.

• Write about your tendencies toward drinking and anger.

Many people find that keeping a daily journal provides a constructive outlet for negative emotions like anger. And recording your alcohol consumption may help you to hold yourself accountable if you plan to cut back. Taking notes on your drinking patterns, amounts consumed, triggers, and emotional responses can aid in gaining better control.

• Engage in meditation and relaxation practice.

Techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness meditation can help release anger and assist you in identifying and redirecting unhelpful thought patterns. Some studies suggest that these methods may also reduce cravings for addictive substances when practiced consistently.

As a person breaks the cycle, therapy can be a valuable, neutral support tool for addressing the psychological causes of anger and problematic drinking. Researchers have demonstrated that therapy can decrease anger and aggression in patients with a history of both. For many people, therapy plays a key role in their recovery from substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder.

Can online therapy help with anger and alcohol use?

Not everyone finds it easy to attend in-person therapy sessions or anger management classes. This may be especially true for those who have faced legal and financial consequences as a result of excessive drinking. Online therapy can be a convenient alternative. Platforms like BetterHelp allow you to talk with your therapist remotely using a computer or mobile device. The physical distance may also make it easier to overcome feelings of anger and discuss tendencies transparently via video call, phone call, or in-app messaging — whichever method you prefer.

For angry and aggressive behaviors and alcohol use disorder, web-based therapy has a track record of success. A 2017 paper concluded that online therapy led to reductions in trait anger and decreased alcohol use following treatment.