I heard that there is some old (circa 1960-19070) and well known research showing that alcohol causes red blood cell to agglutinate into big "lamps" (tens or even hundreds in a lump). Apparently these lumps are clearly visible in eye capillaries if I were to use a microscope.

Some people say that agglutinated red cell can't get through small capillaries of the brain to reach neurons and as a result we get a high similar to what we get if we go too high on a hot air balloon without an oxygen mask.

I'd really like to know if all above is true/partially true/all wrong as it looks to me as a very likely explanation of how alcohol actually works.

Sergei Zhyzhyn, Glasgow