Alcohol

How it affects the body

• The majority is absorbed through the walls of the intestine

Types of Alcohol

Beer - made from brewing a grain like barley, corn or rye and hops and then fermenting 

• Most beers are about 4-8% alcohol; however IPA’s can tend to have higher percentages of alcohol

Wine - made from fermenting grapes or other fruits 

• Most wines are 12-14% alcohol
• Wine coolers are carbonated and are 1.5-6% alcohol

Liquor - made by distillation 

• Most are about 40% alcohol

 \n Brewing -  the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting liquid with yeast \n

Fermentation -  is the process whereby sugars are converted by yeast to alcohol and carbon dioxide \n

Distillation - is the process of taking a fermented mixture and using selective boiling and collecting of condensation to create a beverage of higher alcohol content

\n One Drink

• 12 ounces of beer
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1.5 ounces of liquor

They all have the same amount of alcohol

Oxidation

The process by which the liver burns up the alcohol consumed

• The liver is the primary site of alcohol metabolism
• Alcohol will remain in the bloodstream until the liver can metabolize it
• The liver oxidizes (breaks down) ½ ounce of pure alcohol per hour
• Only time can sober up a person

Factors That Affect BAC

• The amount of alcohol consumed
• Speed in which the alcohol was consumed
• Body weight
    * Higher weight = more blood volume
    * Lower weight = less blood volume = greater effect
• Percentage of body fat
    * Higher % body fat = higher BAC
• Gender
    * BAC rises higher in females due to hormones, % body fat and less of a particular stomach enzyme
• Feelings
• Amount of food eaten
• Presence of other drugs in your bloodstream
• Age
    Ex. Elderly person = lower blood volume
• Drinking a carbonated alcoholic beverage
    Carbonated beverages enter the bloodstream more quickly