In other words, one standard drink or the same amount of ethyl alcohol as in the drink before and the drink after shown in this picture. There you will find two online calculators that will help you determine the amount of ethanol ethyl alcohol — in other words, the alcohol by volume — in various types of alcoholic beverages and containers.
So, why does ethyl alcohol ethanol change the way the brain works and potentially cause a person to exhibit drinking behaviors? The answer has to do with how the body processes alcohol.
Alcohol is not processed like other foods and liquids through the digestive system. Instead it passes through the stomach and enters the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine. One such organ is the brain. The ethyl alcohol chemicals in alcoholic beverages can only leave the body by what happens in the liver.
These liver enzymes can only metabolize a certain amount of ethyl alcohol per hour, which means alcohol leaves the bloodstream more slowly than it enters. Contrary to popular belief, then, we cannot rid our bodies of the ethyl alcohol chemicals in the alcoholic beverages we drink by peeing, sweating, or vomiting.
Similarly, drinking coffee or lots of water or eating a big meal or taking a walk around the block will not get rid of these chemicals, either. The only thing that can sober a person up is TIME.
As a very GENERAL rule of thumb, it takes about one hour for the liver to metabolize the ethyl alcohol chemicals in one standard drink. And recall a standard drink is defined as 5 ounces of table wine, 12 ounces of regular beer, and 1. Using this very GENERAL rule of thumb, it will take four hours to metabolize four standard drinks — even if the drinks were consumed back-to-back in a short period of time.
These changes, in turn, are what cause a person to engage in drinking behaviors, such as: saying mean things, getting into a fist fight, or thinking that having unprotected sex is a good idea. This causes the person to slur their words, not think about the speed limit, not be as quick with their braking reflexes, and find their vision is blurred. No two people will necessarily metabolize alcohol in the same manner. People who weigh less, for example, have less body water as compared to someone who weighs more, and thus drink for drink a person who weighs less will have more alcohol concentration in their body water than someone who weighs more.
People who have lower amounts of the liver enzymes that metabolize ethyl alcohol will take longer to metabolize the same amount as someone else. Stage of brain development also has an influence. Each beverage portrayed above represents one standard drink or one alcoholic drink equivalent , defined in the United States as any beverage containing 0.
Although the standard drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes. Still not sure about units? Try the Scottish Government's alcohol unit generator and alcohol unit calculator.
Home Healthy living Alcohol How does my drinking add up. How does my drinking add up. An easy mistake is to think one drink equals one unit. It doesn't. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar.
Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Physical Science. Chemical Compounds. How Alcohol Works. More than half of the global the population in three regions — the Americas, Europe and Western Pacific — drinks alcohol. Contents What Is Alcohol? What Is Alcohol? Alcohol is available in a variety of forms, including wine, beer, liquor, whiskey and even moonshine. Alcohol is a clear liquid at room temperature.
Alcohol is less dense and evaporates at a lower temperature than water. This property allows it to be distilled,by heating a water and alcohol mixture, the alcohol evaporates first. Alcohol dissolves easily in water. Alcohol is so flammable , it can be used as a fuel. Fermentation of fruit or grain mixtures. This is often followed by distillation of fermented fruit or grain mixtures Spirits such as whiskey, rum, vodka and gin are distilled. Chemical modification of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas or coal industrial alcohol Chemical combination of hydrogen with carbon monoxide methanol or wood alcohol.
Most of the typical spirits purchased in liquor stores are 40 percent alcohol. Some highly concentrated forms of rum and whiskey 75 to 90 percent can be purchased in liquor stores.
Some highly concentrated forms of whiskey i. How Alcohol Enters the Body " ". When a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, about 20 percent of the alcohol is absorbed in the stomach; the rest is absorbed via the intestines. The biological sex of the drinker. Alcohol is metabolized differently in women and men , due to factors like body composition. The concentration of alcohol in the beverage.
The greater the concentration, the faster the absorption. The type of drink. Carbonated beverages tend to speed up the absorption of alcohol. Whether the stomach is full or empty. Food in the belly slows down alcohol absorption. Alcohol in Men vs. How Alcohol Leaves the Body Once alcohol is absorbed into a person's bloodstream, it leaves the body in three ways: The kidneys eliminate 5 percent of alcohol in the urine.
The lungs exhale 5 percent of alcohol, which can be detected by breathalyzer devices. The liver chemically breaks down the remaining alcohol into acetic acid. Blood Alcohol Concentration " ". Someone who's blood alcohol content is between 0. They may become more self-confident or daring. Their attention span may shorten.
They may look flushed. Their judgement may not be as sharp and they may be more impulsive; they might say the first thought that comes to mind, rather than an appropriate comment for the given situation. They may have trouble with fine movements, such as writing or signing their name.
They could become sleepy. They might have trouble understanding or remembering things even recent events. They might not react to situations as quickly. Their body movements may become uncoordinated. They may begin to lose their balance easily. Their vision could become blurry. They may have trouble sensing things hearing, tasting, feeling, etc. They are likely to be confused — they may not know where they are or what they are doing.
They may be dizzy and stagger on their feet. They might be highly emotional, aggressive, withdrawn, or overly affectionate.
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