Why does my face turn red when i drink alcohol?

Vasodilatation: Alcohol acts as a vasodilator, a drug which causes small blood vessels (capillaries) to dilate. Some of this comes from an intermediate by-product of alcohol metabolism called acetaldehyde, which is usually rapidly metabolized further, but in some people it can accumulate, causing more flushing than in other people. This happens particularly in people of asian background and native americans.