Alcohol May Help Initiate Sexual Encounters, but Cannabis Was Linked to Greater Satisfaction in a Spanish Survey

A 2024 survey of adults in Spain found that alcohol and cannabis were associated with different aspects of sexual experiences. Alcohol was more commonly linked to feeling attractive, sociable and sexually motivated, while cannabis was associated with greater physical sensitivity and sexual satisfaction among more frequent users.

The study, published in Revista Internacional de Andrología, was conducted by researchers from the University of Huelva and the University of Córdoba. Participants completed an online questionnaire about their use of alcohol and cannabis and how each substance affected their sexual experiences.

The paper’s abstract describes a sample of 483 people, while its methods section reports 468 participants. The respondents were adults between 18 and 35 years old who had used both alcohol and cannabis. The survey was distributed through university networks in March and April 2022, making it a convenience sample rather than a representative study of the Spanish population.

Different effects on desire and sensation

Alcohol was more strongly associated with social and anticipatory aspects of sex. Across the sample, participants were more likely to say that alcohol made them feel sexually attractive, view other people as more attractive, feel extroverted and experience more desire for sex.

For example, 39.7% of respondents said alcohol made them feel more sexually attractive, compared with 12.2% who said the same about cannabis. Similarly, 60.9% said alcohol made other people seem more sexually attractive, compared with 20.3% for cannabis. Alcohol was also more often linked to feeling more outgoing and wanting sex more than usual.

Cannabis showed a different pattern. About half of respondents said it made their bodies feel more sensitive, compared with 48.9% for alcohol. When the researchers analyzed participants who used the substances at least weekly, cannabis was associated with significantly greater sensitivity and enjoyment than alcohol. Across the full sample, participants also reported more enjoyment with cannabis than with alcohol.

The findings do not show that cannabis universally improves sex—or that alcohol reliably makes it worse. Instead, they suggest that people perceived the substances as affecting different parts of the experience. Alcohol appeared more connected with social confidence and initiating encounters, whereas cannabis was more closely associated with sensory intensity and satisfaction.

Longer encounters did not necessarily mean better ones

Participants generally reported longer sexual encounters after drinking alcohol than after using cannabis. That difference was statistically significant among people who used the substances more frequently, but not among lower-frequency users.

The researchers cautioned that longer sex should not be interpreted as more satisfying sex. Alcohol can impair arousal and orgasm, particularly at higher levels of intoxication, which may prolong intercourse without improving the experience. The study found no significant difference between alcohol and cannabis in the reported intensity of sexual activity.

Most participants preferred sex without drugs

Despite reporting some positive effects, most respondents said they did not prefer to use either substance during sex. About 89.9% said they did not prefer alcohol, while 78.9% said they did not prefer cannabis. Among more frequent users, cannabis was preferred over alcohol, but drug-free sex remained the overall preference.

The responses also showed considerable variation. With alcohol, the largest groups said the substance improved some aspects of sex while worsening others, or that its effects varied from one occasion to another. With cannabis, the most common response was that it produced no change, followed by reports that it improved the experience.

What the wider research shows

The findings are broadly consistent with a 2024 review of cannabis and human sexuality, which concluded that cannabis’s effects may depend on dose, frequency of use and individual differences. Lower doses were more often associated with increased desire and enjoyment, while higher doses could reduce desire or sexual performance. The review also emphasized that much of the human evidence comes from questionnaires and retrospective reports rather than controlled experiments.

Earlier research has reported similar perceptions. In a survey published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, participants commonly said cannabis increased sexual satisfaction and sensitivity to touch. However, that study also used a convenience sample and measured people’s impressions of their experiences rather than objective changes in sexual function.

These limitations are important. The Spanish study was cross-sectional and retrospective, so it cannot establish that alcohol or cannabis caused the reported effects. Participants were not randomly selected, the questionnaire was developed specifically for the study, and the researchers did not control the dose, potency or method of cannabis use. Different products can contain very different amounts of THC, and the effects of cannabis vary by person and by route of administration.

Both substances can also impair judgment and coordination. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that combining cannabis with alcohol can produce greater impairment than using either substance alone. Intoxication can also complicate communication and consent, so any sexual activity must involve clear, ongoing agreement from everyone involved.

Overall, the survey points to a contrast rather than a simple winner: alcohol was more closely associated with social disinhibition and the initiation of sexual encounters, while cannabis was associated with greater sensitivity and satisfaction in some frequent users. The results describe subjective experiences—not medical recommendations—and better-controlled research is needed to determine how dose, potency, frequency, sex, health and context shape the relationship between substance use and sexual function.