Question Regarding Alcohol Intoxication

Hiya. This question is more out of pure curiosity than anything else.

Ever since trying alcohol for the first time, I would often close my eyes during inebriation, and feel this really heavy vertigo/dizziness. It's difficult to describe it, but it feels as if I'm spinning backwards vertically. Though not a full spin, more like a 45 degree one, which keeps warping back to the beginning and looping. Once I opened my eyes, it would quickly fade away, sometimes even when I didn't open them. I should also mention, that I only feel this, when I close my eyes.

Now, this has never been an uncomfortable feeling. Instead, it always seems to make me smile and sneer compellingly. I asked my friend, and he said he hasn't felt anything like this when drunk. That made me wonder what exactly it is, that causes this feeling. I'm assuming it's nothing serious as far as health goes, since it doesn't need much intoxication for me to get this sense of "spinning".

I made a quick Google search for this, and stumbled upon the Wikipedia article "(The) Spins". English is not my main language, and I've always been quite a minor alcohol consumer, so I had never heard that term. Is that really the definition I'm describing here? If so, I would like more elaboration on that.

For reference, my physical measurements: I'm 18 years old, 175cm (5'9'') and an average weight of 50kg (110lbs). I've been consuming alcohol for a little over a year, always in moderation, because any more than that and it makes me feel sick.

I said it already, but I wanna address it further, that this vertigo doesn't feel uncomfortable, and I'm asking this only because I'm interested in the human body and mind. As well as small trivial things.

I assumed it was safe to post this here, 'cause I couldn't find any place more fitting than a general Q&A-subforum.