Your body gets rid of approximately:
Three alcoholic drinks an hour.
One alcoholic drink an hour.
Two alcoholic drinks an hour.
None of the above.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: One alcoholic drink an hour.
Explanation:
The body metabolizes alcohol primarily through the liver, and the average rate of alcohol elimination is roughly one standard drink per hour. This rate can vary depending on several factors, but it is the general rule of thumb.
What is a standard drink?
A standard drink contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is the amount of alcohol the body can typically process in an hour. This amount is found in:
- 12 ounces of beer (with about 5% alcohol content),
- 5 ounces of wine (with about 12% alcohol content),
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (like vodka or whiskey at 40% alcohol content).
Why is it one drink per hour?
The liver processes alcohol using enzymes, with the key enzyme being alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde (which is further broken down into acetic acid). On average, the liver can metabolize about 0.6 ounces of alcohol per hour, which equates to one standard drink. Any more than this and the alcohol remains in the bloodstream, leading to intoxication.
Factors Affecting Alcohol Metabolism:
The rate at which alcohol is processed can vary depending on several factors:
- Body size and weight: Larger individuals typically have more water in their bodies, which helps dilute alcohol and may speed up the process.
- Gender: Women generally metabolize alcohol more slowly than men due to differences in body composition and enzyme levels.
- Age: Older adults may have a slower metabolism of alcohol.
- Health and liver function: People with liver disease or poor liver function will process alcohol more slowly.
Alcohol in the system:
Even though the liver processes alcohol at an average of one drink per hour, drinking more than this rate can lead to increased blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which can impair cognitive and motor functions and increase the risk of accidents or long-term health problems.