Alcohol, Wine, and Sleep in Adults: Insights from a Narrative Review

Sleep is a fundamental determinant of health, yet many adults use alcohol—particularly wine—as a perceived aid for relaxation and sleep initiation. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from 2015–2025 on the effects of wine and alcohol on sleep among community-dwelling adults, focusing on sleep initiation, architecture, continuity, and sleep-disordered breathing, while also considering how circadian factors influence alcohol use. Despite common cultural narratives, the evidence consistently shows that although alcohol may reduce sleep onset latency in the short term, it disrupts sleep architecture, continuity, and respiratory function later in the night. Non-ethanolic components of wine, such as polyphenols and melatonin, appear insufficient to offset these adverse effects. Overall, wine should not be considered a sleep aid, and future research using standardized exposure measures and objective sleep assessments is needed to better inform clinical guidance and public health recommendations.