Scientists have found that drinking small amounts of alcohol tends to speed up the rate of digestion, causing diarrhea. On the other end of the spectrum, drinking large amounts of alcohol can delay digestion and cause constipation. Alcohol can also irritate your digestive tract, worsening diarrhea.

Do alcoholics get diarrhea a lot?

Abstract Alcohol generates a large caloric yield without supplying any essential nutrients; alcoholics may thus maintain body weight while suffering from malnutrition. In addition, diarrhea is a common complaint of both acute and chronic alcoholics.

Why do alcoholics get diarrhea?

Faster digestion: Alcohol agitates the intestines and causes them to react by speeding up digestion. The muscles in the colon contract more frequently, pushing stool out faster than usual. This quickening can lead to diarrhea, as the intestines do not have time to digest the passing food properly.