Effects of Alcohol

The Immediate Effects

• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant which is absorbed into your bloodstream quickly.
• The absorption rate depends on the amount of food in your stomach.
• A valve at the bottom of the stomach closes to allow for digestion of food.
• A carbonated alcoholic drink, like champagne, will be absorbed faster than a non-carbonated drink.
• Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes; however, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body.
• The liver can only break down alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour.
• Alcohol is a diuretic, it acts on the kidneys to make you urinate more than you take in.
• Alcohol reduces the production of a hormone called vasopressin, which tells your kidneys to reabsorb water allowing the bladder to fill up more freely, which can lead to dehydration.
• If a person consumes alcohol at a faster rate than the liver can break it down, the blood alcohol concentration level rises.
• Older people's liver will metabolize alcohol more slowly than younger people. However, excess alcohol can do more damage to younger brains, since they are still developing.
• The effects of alcohol may appear within 10 minutes and peak at approximately 40-60 minutes. 

Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

• Caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol, making people think they are less intoxicated than they really are, giving a false sense or the ability to function normally.
• The caffeine in these beverages can lead to more drinking, since one of the bodies reaction to drinking without caffeine is to get sleepy and stop.
• Since caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics they can lead to serious dehydration.

Different levels lead to different effects

• 0.02 - legal driving limit in China
• 0.03 legal driving limit in most of India
• 0.04 - reduction in reaction time
• 0.05 - reduced inhibitions and legal limit in much of Europe
• 0.08 - legal driving limit in USA
• 0.10 - slurred speech
• 0.20 - euphoria and motor impairment
• 0.30 - confusion
• 0.40 - stupor
• 0.50 - coma
• 0.60 - respiratory paralysis and death

What is a standard drink in the United States? 

A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in:

• 12-ounces of beer
• 8-ounces of malt liquor
• 5-ounces of wine
• 1.5-ounces or a "shot" of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (i.e. gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey)

Drink Responsibly

• Drink at least one glass of water for every alcoholic drink to help reduce dehydration
• Know your limit - take a cab or have a designated driver