Why Does Boredom Make Us Want to Drink?

Have you ever craved a drink when you were bored?

If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Many high-functioning drinkers who try to take a break from alcohol find that boredom is one of the hardest emotions to deal with when getting alcohol-free.

Whether it’s a slow Sunday afternoon or an evening that feels particularly quiet, when that nagging sense of “something’s missing” hits out of nowhere, the thought “a glass of wine will make this better” often creeps in.

And you know how the rest of the story goes: In a moment of weakness, you give in to the desire and reach for the bottle. For a moment, it helps—you feel better, the discomfort melts away. You no longer feel bored.

But when the next evening rolls around again, you find yourself right back in the old cycle: bored → drink → go