Alcohol & You

Your Wellbeing

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

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 a party (extreme drowsiness)
- Unable to walk on own
- Glazed eyes (unable to focus)
- Repeated vomiting

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