Alcohol Facts
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Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) measures the percentage of alcohol in a person's bloodstream
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The amount you drink and the speed at which alcohol is consumed will have a huge impact on your BAC level
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BAC = (alcohol consumed in grams) / (body weight in grams x R) x 100
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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
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Standard drink sizes:
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Wine: 5oz = 148ml; alcohol by volume: 11-16%
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Beer: 12oz = 355ml; alcohol by volume: 3-5%
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Liquor: 1.5oz = 44ml; alcohol by volume: 40% (80 proof)
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Water content in muscles dilutes the distribution of alcohol → greater muscle mass buffers a rapid rise in BAC
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Drinking in an unfamiliar environment can increase your impairment (situational tolerance)
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In a typical environment that you drink in, your body receives a cue that it will receive alcohol → tolerance goes into effect when cued
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In an unfamiliar environment, your body does not get the cue → might feel like you drank more than you actually did
Effects of Alcohol
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Feelings of relaxation, lower inhibitions, and sociability, followed by drowsiness and impaired judgment, speech, and coordination
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Dizziness, slurred speech, poor balance, vomiting, blackouts, inability to walk
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Overdose may produce slowed breathing, blue lips/fingernails, slowed heart rate, unresponsiveness, and possible death
Risk Spectrum of Intoxication
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Low-risk signs of intoxication:
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More outgoing than usual
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Extra talkative
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Yelling
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Reduced inhibitions
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Moderate-risk signs of intoxication:
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Very emotional
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Repeating stories (blackout)
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Slurring speech
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Stumbling
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Vomiting
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High-risk signs of intoxication
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Nodding off at party (extreme drowsiness)
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Unable to walk on own
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Glazed eyes (unable to focus)
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Repeated vomiting
When to Call for Help
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Repeated vomiting
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Incoherence
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Unable to stand/walk
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Glazed eyes
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Slowed breathing
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Blue lips/fingernails
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Cold/clammy/pale skin
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Unresponsive/passed out
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Difficulty breathing
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Physical injury
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Weak or absent pulse
Strategies to Reduce Risk
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Eat a meal before drinking
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Food in your stomach can slow the absorption of alcohol
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Pace yourself to 1 hr+ between drinks
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Alternate with water or non-alcoholic drinks
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Alcohol is dehydrating. Drinking water can help rehydrate + pace your drinks
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Set a drink limit before you go out
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Set your optimal buzz as your target level of intoxication
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Group up - find friends who want to have a similar night as you
Blood Alcohol Concentration Charts