Does alcohol impair appreciation of sound?

It effects my hearing as well. Harder to hear details after I've had a few.

I brought this up on another forum and it was not well received by some. Too sensitive a subject I guess.

I enjoy listing to my system playing back music when I'm buzzed.. It takes the edge off and sounds more relaxed to me.

I enjoy listening under the influence (LUI). It seems to me that the soundstage opens up. Physiological, psychological or emotional reasons for this? My approach is with 77jovian, still conducting research.

A general question by the op. He really should clarify. I take it he's referring to hearing. As such, it affects everybody the same, which affect has been stated.

Alcohol is a toxin and the hair cells of the inner ear are, as we know, superbly sensitive. When alcohol gets into the bloodstream it comes into direct contact with the hair cell, and is absorbed within the cell, where it interacts with basic cell processes. Of course this is temporary and as far as we know completely reversible. But it impairs hearing in a dose-related fashion, at least temporarily.