Kind of sounds like the same theory as background music applies here . The less you notice it , the more it is doing its job . Enhance , not overwhelm . etc . <| sep |> I really think there ' s a big difference in cognitive functioning between a glass of wine and even a hit of modern weed . Besides , most people who have just a glass drink for the taste and don ' t get much of a buzz . I ' ve never even heard of smoking for the taste . You ' re not accounting for tolerance with this statement . Maybe your experience is that one hit of modern weed is enough to put you on your ass . Which is very much true for most people who aren ' t regular smokers . But someone who smokes daily can take a few hits and only end up mildly buzzed . Now back to the alcohol thing . One point I ' d like to clarify You mention one glass as a unit of measure . However , servings of alcohol are somewhat standardized . Namely 14 grams of pure ethanol . So if you were talking about wine , one standard drink counts as only five fluid ounces of 12 % alcohol wine . Or 12 fl oz of 5 % beer , or 1 . 5 fl oz of 80 proof liquor . So if someone pours themselves 10 ounces of wine , that actually counts as two drinks even though it may be only one glass . Likewise , a 40 oz is not one beer and a couple fingers of whiskey in a rocks glass is probably not really one drink , but anywhere from 1 12 to 2 or more . Depending on the size of the glass , the proof of the whiskey , and what we ' re calling fingers . My point being . some people may equate glasses with drinks when they ' re not necessarily the same , and some people may be having more drinks than they think , when measured against the standard . Oh , and one last point How buzzed you get from one drink or one glass , will depend on lots of factors , actually . How fast you drink it , being a huge one . Then there ' s other stuff like body weight , stomach contents , etc . Smoking actually works similarly . Smaller puffs spaced out will get you less buzzed , than bigger puffs close together . Source Certified for safe alcohol service . Long term stoner . Amateur pharmacologist .