What happens to Alcohol in the body?
Alcohol is not digested like food. It goes from the stomach and small intestine Directly into the bloodstream. It then circulates to the brain down. This effects all of the bodies systems. As soon alcohol enter the bloodstream, the body starts to eliminate only about one drink in one hour. The exact time varies from person to person. What happens when a person drinks too much? If a person drinks more than the body can efficiently handle-say, two drinks in an hour, or one drink in 10 minutes-his or her blood concentration (BAC) rises. BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. It is affected by many factors, such as body weight, whether a person has eaten, and individual metabolism. As BAC rises, judgment is the first function to become impaired by alcohol. Perceptions also are distorted, and muscular control is diminished. When someone is impaired by alcohol, how do you know? There are degrees of impairment. Someone who impaired may bump into things or have slurred speech.
