How Alcohol Before Surgery Affects Anesthesia 🍷 Higher anesthetic needs Alcohol and anesthetic drugs act on similar CNS pathways. When alcohol is still in the system, it can blunt the effect of standard doses, meaning the anesthesiologist may need more medication to achieve adequate sedation. Chronic use further alters liver enzymes and receptor sensitivity, making responses less predictable. 😴 Less predictable sedation Acute intoxication can actually lower anesthetic requirements, increasing