AlcoholAlcoholAll the detailsAll the details

What is alcohol?What is alcohol?

• A liquid, produced by the fermentation A liquid, produced by the fermentation (aging) or distillation (aging) or distillation (boiling/heating) of sugar or starch, (boiling/heating) of sugar or starch, that is the intoxicating agent in that is the intoxicating agent in fermented drinks.fermented drinks.

• There are three different categories of There are three different categories of alcohol: alcohol: beerbeer, , winewine and and liquorliquor..

• The difference between the three is what The difference between the three is what sugar or starch they are made from, as sugar or starch they are made from, as well as the well as the concentrationconcentration of alcohol. of alcohol.

Three categoriesThree categories

• Liquor – includes alcohol such as Liquor – includes alcohol such as whiskey, tequila, rum, vodka and gin. whiskey, tequila, rum, vodka and gin. Made by Made by distillingdistilling sugars. sugars. Highest Highest alcohol concentrationalcohol concentration

• Wine – made from Wine – made from fermentingfermenting fruit and fruit and other sugars over time. other sugars over time. Medium Medium alcohol concentrationalcohol concentration

• Beer – made from Beer – made from fermentingfermenting starches/wheat. starches/wheat. Lowest alcohol Lowest alcohol concentrationconcentration

Path through the Path through the bodybody

• Mouth: alcohol enters the body. Mouth: alcohol enters the body.

• Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream in the stomach, but most goes on to the small in the stomach, but most goes on to the small intestine. intestine.

• Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine. through the walls of the small intestine.

• Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.

• Brain: alcohol reaches the brain. Brain: alcohol reaches the brain.

• Liver: finally, alcohol is oxidized by the liver Liver: finally, alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about 0.5 oz per hour.at a rate of about 0.5 oz per hour.

• Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide and energy.and energy.

Standard drinkStandard drink

• The serving size for “one standard The serving size for “one standard drink” of alcohol is different for drink” of alcohol is different for each of our three categories, however each of our three categories, however because of the difference in because of the difference in alcohol alcohol concentrationconcentration, each standard drink has , each standard drink has about the same amount of alcohol.about the same amount of alcohol.

One shot (1.5 oz) of liquor One glass (4 oz.) of wine One can/bottle (12 oz.) of beer

Standard drinksStandard drinks

•

ConcentrationConcentration

• Alcohol concentration – the percentage of the Alcohol concentration – the percentage of the entire fluid that is made up of pure entire fluid that is made up of pure concentrated alcohol.concentrated alcohol.

• Blood alcohol concentration – a comparison of Blood alcohol concentration – a comparison of the amount of alcohol to the amount of blood in the amount of alcohol to the amount of blood in someone’s system.someone’s system.

• Typical alcohol concentrations:Typical alcohol concentrations:

Beer ~ 5%Beer ~ 5% Wine ~ 12% Wine ~ 12% Liquor ~ Liquor ~ 40%40%

• Legal B.A.C. limits for drivers in WA stateLegal B.A.C. limits for drivers in WA state

under 21 = 0% under 21 = 0% 21 and over = .08%21 and over = .08%

B.a.c. factorsB.a.c. factors

• GenderGender

• According to the Wisconsin Department According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a man and a woman of Transportation, a man and a woman who consume the same number of who consume the same number of alcoholic beverages will normally have alcoholic beverages will normally have different BAC levels. A woman's will different BAC levels. A woman's will be higher because a female body be higher because a female body contains less water and more fat contains less water and more fat tissue, which is not as readily tissue, which is not as readily penetrated by alcohol.penetrated by alcohol.

b.a.c. factorsb.a.c. factors

• Drinks per HourDrinks per Hour

• When it comes to alcohol consumption and When it comes to alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentration, every blood alcohol concentration, every person is different. The speed at which person is different. The speed at which your body processes alcohol differs from your body processes alcohol differs from one person to the next. In general, any one person to the next. In general, any more than one alcoholic drink per hour more than one alcoholic drink per hour is too much for a liver to metabolize is too much for a liver to metabolize (process). One drink is considered to be (process). One drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 4 to 5 ounces of 12 ounces of beer, 4 to 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.

b.a.c. factorsb.a.c. factors

• Body weightBody weight

• The larger a person is, the more blood in The larger a person is, the more blood in his/her system. It is easier to increase his/her system. It is easier to increase a smaller/lighter person’s B.A.C. because a smaller/lighter person’s B.A.C. because of the fact there is less blood. Women of the fact there is less blood. Women are generally smaller than men. It might are generally smaller than men. It might take only one drink for a woman (or man) take only one drink for a woman (or man) who weighs less than 120 pounds to fail a who weighs less than 120 pounds to fail a BAC test. Someone who weighs many pounds BAC test. Someone who weighs many pounds more could consume slightly more alcohol more could consume slightly more alcohol because of his/her larger blood volume.because of his/her larger blood volume.

b.a.c. factorsb.a.c. factors

• FoodFood

• According to the Mayo Clinic, if your According to the Mayo Clinic, if your stomach is empty while you're drinking, stomach is empty while you're drinking, approximately 20 percent of the alcohol approximately 20 percent of the alcohol you consume can rush to your brain in you consume can rush to your brain in less than 60 seconds. When there is food less than 60 seconds. When there is food in your stomach, alcohol absorbs more in your stomach, alcohol absorbs more gradually into the blood stream.gradually into the blood stream.

• NOTE: this is food in the system BEFORE NOTE: this is food in the system BEFORE the person drinks, eating afterwards is the person drinks, eating afterwards is NOT going to sober a person up faster.NOT going to sober a person up faster.

b.a.c. mythb.a.c. myth

• Coffee MythCoffee Myth

• The Mayo Clinic says drinking coffee The Mayo Clinic says drinking coffee will in no way help sober you up will in no way help sober you up faster. Time is the only thing that faster. Time is the only thing that will lower blood alcohol level. There will lower blood alcohol level. There is nothing to do but wait for your is nothing to do but wait for your body to metabolize the alcohol.body to metabolize the alcohol.