Almost all of us have heard that alcohol is a drug, but many of us don’t think of the act of drinking alcohol as putting a drug into our bodies. It is important for people to understand that alcohol abuse impairs their judgment, their motor nervous system, and the functions of the brain.

Alcohol also affects different people in different ways. Some of the characteristics that determine the way alcohol affects you include:

  • Gender
  • Mood
  • Body Weight
  • Type of Alcohol
  • Full/Empty Stomach
  • Speed of Consumption
  • Use of Medication or Other Drugs

But for most people the effects of alcohol are going to be determined by simple volume. The less of the chemical we put into our bodies, the less the effect. In other words, the less we drink the less we become impaired. How does that impairment happen? Let’s take a look.

When a person drinks alcohol, unlike eating foods that need to be digested, the alcohol can immediately enter the bloodstream. The molecular structure of alcohol (or ethanol) is small, so the alcohol can be absorbed or transferred into the blood through the walls of the stomach and the small intestine.

The stomach actually has a relatively slow absorption rate; it is the small intestine that absorbs most of the alcohol. That’s why we want to keep the alcohol in the stomach as long as possible by eating food, which dilutes the alcohol and keeps it from entering the small intestine so quickly. Once the alcohol gets into the bloodstream it moves through the body where it comes into contact with virtually every organ. However, some of the highest concentrations, and certainly the highest impact, is caused by the alcohol that gets to the brain.

We need to know that the body is quite efficient when it comes to dealing with alcohol. The liver is designed to metabolize the majority of alcohol as we drink it. Enzymes break down the alcohol into harmless products and then it is excreted. However, the liver can only handle so much alcohol at a time. For a person of average weight and body type, the liver and small intestine can handle alcohol at a rate of about one drink an hour.

If a person drinks at a faster rate than one drink an hour, the alcohol simply stays in the body, “waiting its turn” to be metabolized. Since there is more alcohol in the body than can be metabolized, the result is increasing levels of intoxication.

Blood Alcohol Level Information and Chart
Of course, it’s important to define what do we mean by a drink. Normally we think in terms of:

  • One beer
  • One mixed drink
  • One glass of wine
  • One shot of alcohol
But it is important to understand that we are talking about a:
  • 12 ounce beer
  • 5 ounce glass of wine
  • 1.5 ounce of 80 proof (40% ETOH) distilled spirits

In other words, a 20-ounce mug of beer is considered more than a drink, it’s actually closer to a drink and a half. And, if a person ordered a mixed drink at a bar or at a party, it may be possible that whoever mixed the drink may have put in two or three ounces of alcohol.

All of these factors will determine the amount of alcohol in your body, which is measured by your BAC, or blood alcohol concentration.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Levels

  • .01-. 07 You feel mildly relaxed, a little lightheaded. Your inhibitions are loosened, and you feel less cautious. Judgment abilities are slightly impaired. No real feeling of the depressant effects of alcohol seen yet. Your behavior may become exaggerated and your emotions intensified.

  • .08 - .13 Your motor skills are starting to become impaired and your sense of balance may be compromised. Your emotions become a bit exaggerated - perhaps loud, perhaps aggressive. It is dangerous (and illegal) for you to drive. Your judgment is impaired and you may have difficulty evaluating sexual situations. You believe you are functioning better than you actually are.

  • .14 - .19 The “good feelings” of euphoria begin to give way to some negative feelings such as anxiety and restlessness. You may begin feeling tired because the depressant qualities of alcohol begin to take effect. If you are a man you will have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. You will have trouble walking or standing, and greatly increase the chance of hurting yourself physically. You may get nauseous.

  • .20 - .24 You feel confused and disoriented. At this point you may experience nausea and since your gag reflex is impaired - you may choke on your vomit. You probably have trouble standing. You may not realize that you hurt yourself because you might not feel pain. Blackouts become likely at this point.

  • .25 - .29 Almost all aspects of your brain are severely impaired. You may have passed out by this point. Vomiting is likely and the chance of asphyxiation on your own vomit is greatly increased. If you haven’t passed out - risk of personal injury is high because you have little to no physical control. You are emotionally numb.

  • .30 - .34 If you are still awake, you are in a stupor. You likely have no comprehension of where you are or what you are doing. There have been numerous cases of alcohol poisoning and death in this range of BAC. You are in need of medical help.

  • .35 & UP You have reached the level of surgical anesthesia. Coma is possible. The lungs and heartbeat are slowing to the point of stopping. You need immediate medical help.

Useful Information About Alcohol
Resources
The Fraternity offers you the following resources to help you deal with a crisis: Sigma Pi would like to thank the University of Wisconsin who provided the information used in the creation of this webpage.