{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T05:54:22Z","timestamp":1787896462301,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]],"date-time":"2026-02-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770768000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Alcohol is widely consumed across cultures and is often used to facilitate relaxation or sleep initiation. This narrative review critically examines evidence published over the past decade (2015\u20132025) on the effects of alcohol, including wine, on sleep health in community-dwelling adults. Priority was given to systematic reviews and meta-analyses, followed by high-quality observational and experimental studies. Across study designs, evidence consistently shows that although alcohol may reduce sleep onset latency, it disrupts sleep architecture, suppresses rapid eye movement sleep, increases sleep fragmentation, and impairs breathing during sleep, particularly in the second half of the night. Habitual alcohol consumption is associated with poorer subjective sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing. Mechanistic pathways include effects on neurotransmission, sleep homeostasis, circadian regulation, thermoregulation, and alcohol metabolism during sleep. Evidence also suggests that the timing of alcohol intake and alignment with circadian rhythms may modify these effects, with earlier consumption potentially reducing some adverse outcomes. A brief section addresses the reciprocal relationship, showing that circadian disruption, shift work, and evening chronotype are associated with higher alcohol use. Although wine contains bioactive compounds such as melatonin and polyphenols, current evidence indicates that these components are present at levels insufficient to provide meaningful sleep benefits. Overall, alcohol, including wine, should not be considered a sleep aid, and public health messaging should emphasize dose, timing, and regularity of alcohol consumption in relation to sleep health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18040585","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]],"date-time":"2026-02-11T11:13:15Z","timestamp":1770808395000},"page":"585","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Alcohol, Wine, and Sleep in Adults: Insights from a Narrative Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5607-5736","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jean-Philippe","family":"Chaput","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children\u2019s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada"},{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1007\/s11920-025-01591-y","article-title":"Sleep and Substance Use: Exploring Reciprocal Impacts and Therapeutic Approaches","volume":"27","author":"Bolling","year":"2025","journal-title":"Curr. Psychiatry Rep."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102030","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smrv.2024.102030","article-title":"The effect of alcohol on subsequent sleep in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"80","author":"Gardiner","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sleep Med. Rev."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e14330","DOI":"10.1111\/jsr.14330","article-title":"Objective and subjective measurement of sleep in people who use substances: Emerging evidence and recommendations from a systematic review","volume":"34","author":"Webber","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Sleep Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101792","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smrv.2023.101792","article-title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between young adults\u2019 sleep habits and substance use, with a focus on self-medication behaviours","volume":"70","author":"Meneo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sleep Med. Rev."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1467","DOI":"10.1080\/07420528.2023.2256899","article-title":"Is evening chronotype associated with higher alcohol consumption? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"40","author":"Sirtoli","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chronobiol. Int."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"agad083","DOI":"10.1093\/alcalc\/agad083","article-title":"Disruption of circadian rhythms promotes alcohol use: A systematic review","volume":"59","author":"Nelson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Alcohol Alcohol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108259","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2020.108259","article-title":"Alcohol consumption and incidence of sleep disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies","volume":"217","author":"Hu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"13","article-title":"Sleep and Alcohol Use in Women","volume":"40","author":"Inkelis","year":"2020","journal-title":"Alcohol Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1078","DOI":"10.1177\/0194599820931087","article-title":"Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Snoring and Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","volume":"163","author":"Jones","year":"2020","journal-title":"Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1038\/s41386-019-0446-0","article-title":"Alcohol use disorder and sleep disturbances: A feed-forward allostatic framework","volume":"45","author":"Koob","year":"2020","journal-title":"Neuropsychopharmacology"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1159\/000507573","article-title":"Shiftwork and Alcohol Consumption: A Systematic Review of the Literature","volume":"27","author":"Richter","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. Addict. Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marhuenda, J., Villa\u00f1o, D., Arcusa, R., and Zafrilla, P. (2021). Melatonin in Wine and Beer: Beneficial Effects. Molecules, 26.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26020343"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2019.03.007","article-title":"Alcohol and sleep-related problems","volume":"30","author":"He","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smrv.2018.05.007","article-title":"The impact of alcohol on breathing parameters during sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"42","author":"Kolla","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sleep Med. Rev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sleep.2017.12.005","article-title":"Alcohol and the risk of sleep apnoea: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"42","author":"Simou","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sleep Med."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1016\/j.alcohol.2014.07.019","article-title":"Alcohol disrupts sleep homeostasis","volume":"49","author":"Thakkar","year":"2015","journal-title":"Alcohol"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2271","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.13217","article-title":"Alcohol Dependence and Its Relationship With Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders","volume":"40","author":"Chakravorty","year":"2016","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-444-62619-6.00024-0","article-title":"Alcohol and the sleeping brain","volume":"125","author":"Colrain","year":"2014","journal-title":"Handb. Clin. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"553","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1530-0277.1992.tb01416.x","article-title":"Sedating effects of ethanol and time of drinking","volume":"16","author":"Roehrs","year":"1992","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.12006","article-title":"Alcohol and sleep I: Effects on normal sleep","volume":"37","author":"Ebrahim","year":"2013","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1007\/s00406-011-0195-5","article-title":"Sleep homeostasis in alcohol-dependent, depressed and healthy control men","volume":"261","author":"Brower","year":"2011","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"870","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1530-0277.2010.01417.x","article-title":"Sleep following alcohol intoxication in healthy, young adults: Effects of sex and family history of alcoholism","volume":"35","author":"Arnedt","year":"2011","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2019.09.005","article-title":"Sleep and circadian risk factors for alcohol problems: A brief overview and proposed mechanisms","volume":"34","author":"Hasler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1265\/ehpm.10.16","article-title":"Effect of moderate alcohol intake on nocturnal sleep respiratory parameters in healthy middle-aged men","volume":"10","author":"Izumi","year":"2005","journal-title":"Environ. Health Prev. Med."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"536","DOI":"10.1093\/alcalc\/agv046","article-title":"The Association of Alcohol Severity and Sleep Quality in Problem Drinkers","volume":"50","author":"Hartwell","year":"2015","journal-title":"Alcohol Alcohol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"838","DOI":"10.1038\/s41380-023-02375-7","article-title":"Association between alcohol consumption and sleep traits: Observational and mendelian randomization studies in the UK biobank","volume":"29","author":"Zheng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13349","DOI":"10.1111\/jsr.13349","article-title":"Association of rotating shift work schedules and the use of prescribed sleep medication: A prospective cohort study","volume":"30","author":"Tucker","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Sleep Res."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.023","article-title":"Sex and gender-related differences in alcohol use and its consequences: Contemporary knowledge and future research considerations","volume":"156","author":"Erol","year":"2015","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2070","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bcp.2008.02.024","article-title":"Sleep homeostasis: A role for adenosine in humans?","volume":"75","author":"Landolt","year":"2008","journal-title":"Biochem. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, Y., Zhang, L., Yao, M., Li, Y., Cao, K., and Deng, Y. (2025). Association of alcohol consumption with sleep disturbance among adolescents in China: A cross-sectional analysis. Front. Public Health, 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1564292"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"02","DOI":"10.35946\/arcr.v44.1.02","article-title":"Sleep-Related Predictors of Risk for Alcohol Use and Related Problems in Adolescents and Young Adults","volume":"44","author":"Hasler","year":"2024","journal-title":"Alcohol Res."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1923","DOI":"10.1080\/10826084.2025.2523458","article-title":"Within-Person Bidirectional Relations Between Sleep Problems and Alcohol, Cannabis, and Co-Use Problems in a Representative U.S. Sample","volume":"60","author":"Drazdowski","year":"2025","journal-title":"Subst. Use Misuse"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1016\/j.alcohol.2023.12.004","article-title":"Associations between sleep medication use and alcohol consumption over 36 years in Finnish twins","volume":"124","author":"Helaakoski","year":"2025","journal-title":"Alcohol"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107345","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2022.107345","article-title":"Associations between sleep patterns, smoking, and alcohol use among older adults in Canada: Insights from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)","volume":"132","author":"Hussain","year":"2022","journal-title":"Addict. Behav."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1378\/chest.88.2.181","article-title":"Minimal effect of alcohol ingestion on breathing during the sleep of postmenopausal women","volume":"88","author":"Block","year":"1985","journal-title":"Chest"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Str\u00fcven, A., Schlichtiger, J., Hoppe, J.M., Thiessen, I., Brunner, S., and Stremmel, C. (2025). The Impact of Alcohol on Sleep Physiology: A Prospective Observational Study on Nocturnal Resting Heart Rate Using Smartwatch Technology. Nutrients, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17091470"},{"key":"ref_37","first-page":"185","article-title":"Ingestion of ethanol just prior to sleep onset impairs memory for procedural but not declarative tasks","volume":"26","author":"Smith","year":"2003","journal-title":"Sleep"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1527","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1530-0277.2006.00184.x","article-title":"Effects of alcohol on polysomnographically recorded sleep in healthy subjects","volume":"30","author":"Feige","year":"2006","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.1007\/s11920-014-0487-3","article-title":"Sleep and substance use disorders: An update","volume":"16","author":"Conroy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr. Psychiatry Rep."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1080\/14656566.2019.1705279","article-title":"Management of insomnia in alcohol use disorder","volume":"21","author":"Geoffroy","year":"2020","journal-title":"Expert Opin. Pharmacother."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1720","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.12141","article-title":"The acute effects of alcohol on sleep architecture in late adolescence","volume":"37","author":"Chan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"zsae003","DOI":"10.1093\/sleep\/zsae003","article-title":"Altered sleep architecture following consecutive nights of presleep alcohol","volume":"47","author":"McCullar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sleep"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1875","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.14921","article-title":"Effects of alcohol on sleep and nocturnal heart rate: Relationships to intoxication and morning-after effects","volume":"46","author":"Pabon","year":"2022","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1080\/07448481.2020.1756826","article-title":"The effect of acute alcohol ingestion on systemic hemodynamics and sleep architecture in young, healthy men","volume":"70","author":"Payseur","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Health"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1554","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.70080","article-title":"Protective Strategies Study Team. Sleep disturbances relate to problematic alcohol use via effortful control and negative emotionality","volume":"49","author":"McCool","year":"2025","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aap.2015.11.011","article-title":"Alcohol use in shiftworkers","volume":"99","author":"Dorrian","year":"2017","journal-title":"Accid. Anal. Prev."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1016\/S0893-133X(98)00068-2","article-title":"Ethanol as a hypnotic in insomniacs: Self administration and effects on sleep and mood","volume":"20","author":"Roehrs","year":"1999","journal-title":"Neuropsychopharmacology"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"680","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.15280","article-title":"Do sleep and circadian characteristics predict alcohol use in adult drinkers?","volume":"48","author":"Burgess","year":"2024","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.1111\/acer.12003","article-title":"Circadian misalignment, reward-related brain function, and adolescent alcohol involvement","volume":"37","author":"Hasler","year":"2013","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grao-Cruces, E., Calvo, J.R., Maldonado-Aibar, M.D., Millan-Linares, M.D.C., and Montserrat-de la Paz, S. (2023). Mediterranean Diet and Melatonin: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox12020264"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"zsad250","DOI":"10.1093\/sleep\/zsad250","article-title":"Sleep and circadian influences on blood alcohol concentration","volume":"46","author":"Miller","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sleep"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2465","DOI":"10.1093\/cvr\/cvaf218","article-title":"The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease","volume":"121","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cardiovasc. Res."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/4\/585\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T11:11:56Z","timestamp":1773054716000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/4\/585"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["nu18040585"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu18040585","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]]}}}