Why Alcohol Affects Different People Differently DRINK WISELY
ADVENTURE BAREFOOT
HIKING JUNETEENTH PARK PICNIC
PRIDE SANDALS SUNBURN VOLUNTEER
FATHER GEMINI
People looking for excuses to drink and drive often rely on some common myths, such as the notion that gulping coffee after a few beers or eating a big, greasy burger will sober them up. In fact, every driver needs to understand the factors that actually do affect their blood alcohol content (BAC). Several individual differences explain why your buddy may be fine after a couple of shots while you’re struggling to sit upright. Rate of Alcohol Consumption: How fast you drink can have almost as much impact on your BAC as how much you drink. Alcohol that enters the body rapidly overwhelms the liver’s capacity to process it. The remaining alcohol stays in the blood, leading to higher BAC readings. Spacing drinks over time and drinking water in between can help moderate the impact. Foods Eaten: Having food in your system slows the progress of alcohol into the bloodstream. The body digests high-protein foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products more slowly than other foods, and these can act as a barrier, slowing the rise of a drinker’s BAC. Adding high-fat foods such as butter or avocados can have a similar impact. As a result, eating a healthy meal before drinking can help moderate your BAC later. Gender: Women have lower levels of an enzyme called ADH, which breaks down alcohol in the body. That means that more alcohol consumed will enter a woman’s bloodstream than a man’s, all other factors being equal. Women’s tendency to have lower water content, higher body fat, and higher levels of estrogen at some times of the month also slows the rate at which alcohol is absorbed. So women, don’t try to out-drink your male companions! Body Type: It makes sense that after drinking the same amount of alcohol, larger, heavier people are likely to have a lower BAC, pound for pound, than smaller people. However, muscle absorbs alcohol more quickly, so a muscular drinker with low body fat won’t feel the effects as fast. Assuming you can tolerate the same amount of booze as your ripped buddy on the next barstool is a bad bet. The Takeaway: Pacing your drinking to match your friends’ isn’t wise. Instead, be mindful of how your body is likely to process alcohol and keep tabs on its effects. If you are facing DUI charges or have questions on the topic, reach out to us today!
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