A new controlled study by researchers at Brown University suggests that smoking cannabis may lead to reduced alcohol consumption — offering fresh scientific insight into a long-debated question about how the two substances interact.
In one of the first experiments to examine the link under real-world-like conditions, scientists recruited about 150 adult volunteers and placed them in a simulated bar environment on the university campus.
Participants were asked to smoke research-grade cannabis while their inhalations, breathing patterns and subsequent drinking behaviour were closely monitored.
The goal was to mimic a typical social setting while maintaining laboratory precision, allowing researchers to track how the timing and dosage of cannabis use influenced drinking patterns.
According to the findings, participants who smoked cannabis consumed less alcohol and reported a reduced urge to drink in the short term.
Researchers say this suggests that cannabis may act as a partial substitute for alcohol for some people, although they caution that the experiment does not establish long-term behavioural trends.
Experts note that the significance of the study lies in its controlled approach. Much of the existing conversation around mixing cannabis and alcohol has relied on anecdotal accounts or self-reported behaviour — methods that can be unreliable.
“By observing people’s real-time actions in a controlled setting, we can better understand the causal effects between these substances,” the researchers said. The study provides a data-driven foundation for future research on harm reduction and substance-use patterns.
The findings also come amid rising acceptance of cannabis in many societies and the growing popularity of trends such as “California sober,” where individuals choose cannabis instead of alcohol to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Advocates say this approach has potential public health benefits, though critics warn that cannabis carries its own risks.
Researchers emphasise that more studies are needed to understand long-term effects, but say their work is an important first step toward demystifying what happens when the two substances are combined.
