Log in
Table of Contents
- What are THC drinks?
- THC drinks vs alcohol: How do they make you feel?
- THC drinks vs alcohol: How quickly do effects kick in?
- THC drinks vs alcohol: Risks and safety considerations
- Alcohol vs THC drinks: Legality
- THC drinks instead of alcohol: A healthier alternative
- The bottom line
A USA Today survey conducted in early 2025 found that nearly half of Americans—a full 49%—planned to drink less alcohol that year. And that was before the U.S. surgeon general called for cancer warnings on alcoholic beverages. It’s a reflection of the growing interest in alcohol moderation, or outright abstinence, evidenced by Dry January, Sober October, and the entire sober-curious movement.
Another growing trend in the U.S.? Replacing alcohol with cannabis. At a time when more people are turning away from alcohol, cannabis beverages are having a moment. Done right, a great THC seltzer is a refreshing, fizzy beverage with mild psychoactive effects. That makes it a great substitute for alcohol in social settings, with a few significant advantages, including no hangover the next day.
Let’s take a closer look at THC drinks versus alcohol and why more people are making the switch.
What are THC drinks?
The clue is in the name! THC drinks, also known as cannabis drinks or cannabis beverages, have been infused with THC, which is one of roughly 100 identified cannabinoids in the cannabis plant (cannabidiol, or CBD, is equally well known). THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound that creates the “high” for which marijuana is known.
Cannabis beverages themselves are pretty diverse—you have your teas, your coffees, and your bubbly seltzers. Some brands also incorporate other botanical ingredients, such as mushroom extracts, for various effects and benefits.
Overall, the goal with cannabis drinks is relaxation and enjoyment. At low levels, THC has a mellowing effect that’s conducive to feeling happy and connected with those around you. For a lot of people, that’s appealing, especially when you compare it to alcohol.
THC drinks vs alcohol: How do they make you feel?
Whether you’re sipping on a THC seltzer or a cocktail, both beverages affect the brain and the body.
Effects of alcohol
Alcohol has a depressant effect on your central nervous system. In low doses, such as a single beer or glass of wine, you’ll probably feel relaxed and talkative, with lowered inhibitions and possibly mild euphoria. Keep drinking, and you’ll slide into a more inebriated state, with slower reaction times, slower reflexes, and poor coordination.
Drink even more, and things can go sideways—you’re slurring, stumbling, possibly blacking out, and eventually, nauseated, vomiting, and passing out. In the morning, you’ll likely feel terrible. Not only are you dehydrated, you probably have a pounding headache (often accompanied by profound regret).
Effects of THC drinks
THC works differently than alcohol, and it’s all thanks to a nifty little network in the body known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is equipped with receptors to which cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, can bind. THC binds to receptors in the brain that influence our moods, perceptions, and cognition, which is why a low-dose THC beverage can make you feel mellow, relaxed, or even a little giggly.
In moderate doses, THC can fuel creativity or introspection, and you may lose track of time. High doses of THC have a greater potential for triggering anxiety, confusion, intense physical relaxation, and even panic attacks. That's why the golden rule of cannabis consumption, in any form, is to start low and go slow. That's the best way of ensuring you get the right amount of THC for the desired effects.
In other words, dosing is key with a cannabis beverage. And while the same might be said of alcohol, the bigger distinction between alcohol and THC drinks is the health risk.
THC drinks vs alcohol: How quickly do effects kick in?
If you’re lumping THC drinks into the THC edibles category, you might assume that effects take a long time to kick in. The effects of most cannabis drinks are surprisingly quick, and in some cases, the onset is comparable to alcohol. Again, it’s all about how these substances are processed in the body.
Alcohol onset time
Depending on the alcohol content and how quickly you’re drinking, the initial effects of alcohol are noticeably fast. Within 10 to 15 minutes, you can expect to feel something, and peak effects tend to hit within thirty minutes to an hour or so. That’s because alcohol absorbs directly into your blood from the stomach and small intestine. If you stop drinking, the effects will linger up to five or six hours.
But part of the problem with alcohol is that it impairs your judgment, which makes another round of shots or that third cocktail sound like a great idea. The more you drink, the more likely you are to keep drinking. This has both short-term and long-term risks, which we'll discuss below.
THC drink onset time
THC drinks are similar to THC edibles. They both enter your mouth, travel down your throat, and pass through your digestive system. But edibles have to be digested before the THC is metabolized in the liver, and it’s a slow process. Depending on your metabolism, it may take 30 minutes to an hour or longer before you feel the effects.
THC drinks are much faster. Liquids are absorbed more quickly than solids, and many THC drinks use special formulations to promote faster absorption. Emulsifiers and nanotechnology dissolve THC into the liquid, which means you might notice effects within 15 to 30 minutes after sipping on that THC seltzer. Effects tend to peak within an hour or so, and they linger for a few hours. Exact timelines will vary, depending on how much THC is in your drink and how quickly your metabolism works.
THC drinks vs alcohol: Risks and safety considerations
While alcohol is an accepted part of society, it just can’t be said that it’s good for you. Research is clear that it’s actively bad for our health. And while it’s true that THC drinks can have impairing effects and that too much THC is no fun, it’s just not the same as alcohol.
Health concerns associated with alcohol
Even if you don’t drink, you likely understand the risks posed by alcohol. First, it can be fatal—alcohol poisoning means you can drink yourself to death. Drink to impairment, and your coordination and good judgment suffer, which means a greater risk of car accidents, violence, and falls. Poor decision-making can also lead to choices that you’ll regret in the morning.
Over the long term, alcohol consumption is associated with a lengthy list of severe health conditions. Alcohol is processed in the liver, which means a higher risk of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. But booze also damages the heart and the brain, and it has a proven link to multiple kinds of cancer (breast, liver, esophagus, colon, need we go on?). Then there’s the whole addiction risk thing. In short, it’s essential to recognize that alcohol has zero health benefits, no matter what the red wine industry says.
Health concerns associated with THC drinks
You really can overdo a good thing, and THC is a good example. Too much THC is just a recipe for a bad experience, as we’ve already covered, so the most significant risk with THC drinks is drinking too many too fast, which will lead to unpleasant effects. But unlike alcohol, over-serving yourself doesn’t have the same risk of overdose. It might be uncomfortable, but it won’t be fatal. And in the morning, you won’t be bedridden with a killer hangover, either.
If you’re guzzling multiple cans of high-dose THC drinks every single day, there is a greater potential for long-term risks. Some studies have linked high THC consumption (especially in long-term users who started consuming in their teens) with an increased risk of anxiety or depression. But no studies to date have linked THC drinks to cancer. And again, potency is key to a positive experience. For most people, less really is more.
THC drinks vs alcohol: Legality
If you’re over 21 in this country, you’re free to consume alcohol. And it’s everywhere, from sporting events and backyard barbecues to concerts and art festivals. What’s more, alcohol consumption is pretty widely accepted. That’s how we ended up with “wine mom” cliches.
Cannabis, and THC in particular, doesn’t have the same legal or societal acceptance, but the tide is shifting. In 2018, the Farm Bill removed hemp, which comes from the cannabis sativa plant species, from the federal government’s list of controlled substances. It also legalized hemp production, along with its sale and transportation across state lines. By that definition, hemp-derived products with a THC content no greater than 0.3% became legal. And just like that, THC products, like THC gummies and THC seltzers, were legally available (at least on a federal level) to adults over the age of 21.
What’s legal in individual states can be more of a gray area. Some states have legalized medical and recreational cannabis, while others have not. That’s why it’s essential to brush up on local laws if you’re interested in cannabis drinks. Cornbread Hemp, for instance, can ship our THC seltzers to all U.S. states except one (sorry, Idaho).
THC drinks instead of alcohol: A healthier alternative
We’ve covered their respective effects, onset times, health risks, and legality, but let’s review the ingredients in these beverages themselves. Alcoholic drinks aren't generally low in calories or sugar. Unless you’re drinking straight liquor, sugary syrups and liqueurs can mean you’re downing hundreds of calories in a single drink! Even a light beer has roughly 100 calories, and that's if you only drink one. During a night out, you could realistically be downing half a day’s worth of calories and sugar from alcoholic beverages alone.
THC drinks, however, are often lower in calories and sugar. Here at Cornbread Hemp, our THC seltzers have 30 calories per can and just 5 milligrams of sugar. And with 5 milligrams of THC, it’s easy to sip your way to the perfect dose, without going overboard on the calories.
The bottom line on THC drinks vs alcohol
There's a reason more people are turning away from alcohol. Many are finding the drawbacks outweigh the singular benefit of social lubrication, particularly as healthier alternatives become available. THC-infused beverages have the social benefits of alcoholic drinks but offer a mellower, more controlled experience without the health risks. When you put it like that, it's easy to see why more people are making the switch from alcohol to cannabis drinks.
