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Blood Alcohol Levels and Metabolism
There are many factors that affect the rate of intoxication and the metabolism
of alcohol. No two people process alcohol at the same rate. The presence
of food in the stomach decreases the rate of absorption. Fasting (not
eating) increases stomach emptying, thus increasing the rate of absorption.
Alcohol mixed with water or fruit juice is absorbed slower, while alcohol
mixed with a carbonated beverage is absorbed faster.
Body weight and composition are two other factors that effect these rates.
Men tend to handle alcohol better than women do. This is because men
are generally larger, thus have a larger blood volume, and carry less
body fat. Body fat contains little water for the body to use in diluting
alcohol. Men also have more of the alcohol metabolizing enzyme, alcohol
dehydrogenase.
The situation, your mood, and why you have chosen to drink on a particular
occasion effect how alcohol affects you. The body does develop a physical
and psychological dependence to alcohol over time. Increased drinking
increases your tolerance, requiring more alcohol to cause an affect in
you. The type and concentration of alcohol consumed effect the rate of
intoxication and metabolism. Most people consider one drink to be equivalent
to one 12 ounce beer, one 80 proof mixed drink or shot of liquor, or
one five ounce glass of wine.
So, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) charts are a good guideline to
use in determining my level of intoxication, right? Wrong. BAC charts
should only be used as a very general guideline. Usually, BAC charts
are based only on body weight, number of drinks per hour, and a metabolism
rate of 0.5 ounces per hour. The charts do not take into account gender
differences, body composition differences, use of medication, mood changes,
or your personal metabolism rate. Be very careful when utilizing these
references and remember to take all of these factors into account.
The following is a generalized alcohol affect chart based on a 150 pound
person, metabolizing 0.5 ounces of alcohol per hour, that has eaten.
Please note that 50% of the persons who attain a blood alcohol level
of 0.4 will die!
| Blood Alcohol Level |
Effect On Body |
| 0.02 |
Slight mood changes |
| 0.06 |
Lowered inhibition, impaired judgement, decreased rational decision-making
abilities. |
| 0.08 |
Legally drunk, deterioration of reaction time and control. |
| 0.15 |
Impaired balance, movement, and coordination. Difficulty standing,
walking, talking. |
| 0.20 |
Decreased pain and sensation. Erratic emotions. |
| 0.30 |
Diminished reflexes. Semi-consciousness. |
| 0.40 |
Loss of consciousness. Very limited reflexes. Anesthetic effects. |
| 0.50 |
Death |
Caution
Death has been documented to occur at levels as low as 0.35. Remember,
each person is different.
Also, the absence of symptoms does not guarantee safe or low blood alcohol
levels. With regular drinking a person develops a tolerance to alcohol
that will reduce the outward appearance of high blood alcohol levels.
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