Stage 2 sleep typically takes about 25 minutes the first time you enter it during the night, and as your sleep cycle repeats itself, this stage gets longer and longer, eventually making up about 45% of your total sleep. Alcohol has been shown to consolidate the first half of your sleep and lead to more disruptions in the latter half of the night, which can change how much time you ultimately spend in this stage. This neurotransmitter blocks certain signals in the central nervous system and produces a calming effect, which is why it feels easier to fall asleep after drinking. With that said, the sleep-promoting benefits of alcohol generally diminish after you\u2019ve consumed alcohol before bed for several days in a row, so this is far from a reliable technique to drift off.<\/p>\n