Subunit of heteromeric glycine-gated chloride channels (PubMed:14551753, PubMed:23994010, PubMed:25730860, PubMed:37821459). Plays an important role in the down-regulation of neuronal excitability (PubMed:8298642, PubMed:9009272). Contributes to the generation of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (PubMed:25445488). Channel activity is potentiated by ethanol (PubMed:25973519). Potentiation of channel activity by intoxicating levels of ethanol contribute to the sedative effects of ethanol (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q64018, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14551753, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16144831, ECO:0000269|PubMed:2155780, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22715885, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22973015, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23994010, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25445488, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25730860, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25973519, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7920629, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7925268, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9009272, ECO:0000305|PubMed:8298642}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000145888 (GLRA1, glycine receptor alpha 1).