Whiskey dick: how alcohol can affect erections

How many times have you had a drink or two to get in the mood? It’s only natural to want to loosen up and let go of some of those nerves or inhibitions that might get in your way in the bedroom. 

But alcohol’s reputation as a sexual performance enabler and enhancer may not be so simple. The reality for many is that drinking too much alcohol too often can lead to a phenomenon worse than a hangover: whiskey dick, aka alcohol-related erectile dysfunction (ED). 

Worried about whiskey dick? Keep reading to learn more about it and how to prevent it.

"Whiskey dick" is a catchy phrase for the less sexy term, alcohol-related erectile dysfunction (ED). Essentially, whiskey dick is the inability to get a sufficient erection after consuming alcohol. You might not be able to get an erection at all or get one that's weaker or doesn't last as long as you like. 

How many drinks does that take? That’s not an easy question to answer. Alcohol tolerance varies widely, depending on your body chemistry and factors such as how much you drink and how often, and so does the body's reaction to it—including any sexual side effects. 

There seems to be a pretty significant difference in how the occasional drink impacts sexual function vs. ED in those with alcohol use disorder. Let’s dig a little deeper to understand how alcohol may impact your erections.

The short answer is alcohol probably doesn’t cause ED—at least not in most cases. 

Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system (CNS)—meaning, it has a sedating effect on the brain and body. Think of alcohol’s typical effects: the pleasant effects like relaxation and a feeling of warmth.

For some, a moderate amount of alcohol can cause just enough relaxation to get past their symptoms of ED, according to one large review study. But, drinking too much alcohol regularly (such as in alcohol dependence or abuse) can have the opposite effect, leading to the dreaded whiskey dick phenomenon.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and erectile function is complex. Mild to moderate alcohol intake doesn’t seem to have a negative effect (and may even have an immediate positive effect), but long-term, heavy use of alcohol appears to increase the risk of ED. This could be because long-term alcohol use causes damage to the blood vessels, including the blood vessels in the penis. 

We know that a little alcohol (up to 1-2 drinks) may actually help you get stronger and longer-lasting erections, but abusing alcohol can severely impair your erections (not to mention being bad for your general health). 

In one study on men with alcohol abuse disorder, 62% of participants had some form of sexual dysfunction, including: 

• Difficulty getting or keeping an erection 

• Premature ejaculation

• Inability to reach orgasm

• Pain during sex

The good news is, even if you struggle with ED or other sexual dysfunction due to alcohol abuse, it probably won’t take long to reverse these symptoms. Another study showed nearly 90% of participants saw improvement in their ED symptoms after just 3 months of stopping their alcohol use. 

Bottom line: The best way to prevent whiskey dick is to avoid heavy drinking or to cut down on it over time. 

In the case of a night of drinking taken a bit too far, whiskey dick will only last as long as it takes for you to sober up. After that, you should be able to get back to normal erections. 

If chronic heavy drinking is a contributing factor to true ED for you, it can take a few months of abstaining from alcohol to see a significant difference in your sexual function. That’s because long-term alcohol abuse and chronic binge drinking can damage your blood vessels (including the blood vessels in the penis that are pretty important for healthy erections). It can take some time for that damage to be reversed, but in most cases, normal sexual function does return. 

There are no studies comparing the effects of different types of alcohol on sexual function. Since it seems like whiskey dick is most common in cases of alcohol use disorder, it’s fair to say that excessive, regular intake of alcohol of any kind puts you at higher risk of sexual dysfunction.

Alcohol consumption can interfere with sexual arousal and function, no matter your gender identity. A recent large review study with over 50,000 female participants showed that women who drink heavily are 74% more likely to experience sexual dysfunction. Female sexual dysfunction can include pain during sex, low libido, and difficulty or inability to climax. 

Just like in men with whiskey dick, women who experience alcohol-related sexual dysfunction are advised to limit their alcohol intake to regain normal sexual function. 

If you experience whiskey dick, your body may be telling you to take a look at how much you're drinking.

To avoid health risks (including risks to your sexual health), the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends no more than two drinks a day for men and one daily drink for women. It’s not always easy to take an honest look at how much alcohol you’re taking in, but it’s worth going through that exercise, especially if your erections are suffering. 

In a true case of alcohol-related ED, avoiding alcohol is the best “treatment” to restore normal sexual function. 

As we’ve seen from the research, though, mild to moderate drinking is an unlikely culprit in erectile dysfunction. If you don’t drink heavily and you suffer from ED, you may need more specific treatment for ED. 

For heavy drinkers with ED, abstaining from alcohol for a while might do the trick to restore sexual function. But, if you’re having trouble getting or maintaining erections that are strong enough for pleasurable sex (for you and your partner), it may be time to see a healthcare provider. 

Many men may put off seeing a doctor for ED, but there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, and there are many ways to treat ED safely and discreetly (such as through Ro’s qualified team of providers). The sooner you can address ED, the better. Plus, ED is often a signal of other underlying health conditions, so it’s important to speak with a provider to make sure there’s nothing else that could be causing your symptoms. Remember, if in doubt, seek additional help either through your primary care provider or a service like Ro.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

September 22, 2024

Written by

Michael Martin

Fact checked by

Raagini Yedidi, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Raagini Yedidi, MD

Raagini Yedidi, MD, is an internal medicine resident and medical reviewer for Ro.