While alcohol can certainly put you to sleep — and it's often referred to as a "nightcap" — the paper on sleep myths explained that it will cause sleep disturbances during the night. Alcohol can worsen sleep apnea symptoms and delay the onset of REM. REM sleep is the deepest part of your sleep cycle and makes up about 20 to 25 percent of adult sleep. It's vital for brain restoration.
In terms of alcohol consumption, "if you toss and turn more than usual, or sleep for a seemingly sufficient amount of time but wake up exhausted after a night of drinking, it may mean you have had too much," Dr. Robbins said.