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Alcohol & You

Alcohol Facts
  • Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) measures the percentage of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream:
    • The amount you drink and the speed at which alcohol is consumed will have a huge impact on your BAC level
    • BAC = (alcohol consumed in grams) / (body weight in grams x R) x 100
      • Biological factors like a person’s sex or size change the impact of each drink on a person’s level of intoxication → R = 0.55 for females and 0.68 for males
  • Standard drink sizes:
    • Wine: 5oz = 148ml; alcohol by volume: 11-16%
    • Beer: 12oz = 355ml; alcohol by volume: 3-5%
    • Liquor: 1.5oz = 44ml; alcohol by volume: 40% (80 proof)
  • Water content in muscles dilutes the distribution of alcohol → more distinguished muscle mass buffers a rapid rise in BAC.
  • Drinking in an unfamiliar environment can increase your impairment (situational tolerance).
    • In a typical environment that you drink in, your body receives a cue that it will receive alcohol → tolerance goes into effect when cued
    • In an unfamiliar environment, your body does not get the cue → might feel like you drank more than you actually did
Effects of Alcohol
Chart of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and the typical effects associated with the percentiles.
Risk Spectrum of Intoxication
  • Low-risk signs of intoxication:
    • More outgoing than usual
    • Extra talkative
    • Yelling
    • Reduced inhibitions
  • Moderate-risk signs of intoxication:
    • Very emotional
    • Repeating stories (blackout)
    • Slurring speech
    • Stumbling
    • Vomiting
  • High-risk signs of intoxication:
    • Nodding off at party (extreme drowsiness)
    • Unable to walk on own
    • Glazed eyes (unable to focus)
    • Repeated vomiting
When to Call for Help
Four steps to take if you are concerned about a friend's level of intoxication.
Strategies to Reduce Risk
  • Eat a meal before drinking
    • Food in your stomach can slow the absorption of alcohol
  • Pace yourself to 1 hr+ between drinks
  • Alternate with water or non-alcoholic drinks
    • Alcohol is dehydrating. Drinking water can help rehydrate + pace your drinks
  • Set a drink limit before you go out
  • Set your optimal buzz as your target level of intoxication
  • Group up – find friends who want to have a similar night as you

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION CHARTS

Blood Alcohol Concentration charts for males and females.