What Defines a Standard Drink?

A standard drink has about 14 grams of alcohol inside of it. For example, a 12-ounce beer equals one drink. However, a 12-ounce glass of malt liquor would be 1.5 drinks since the alcohol content is higher.¹

For Men
Although the standard drink is the same for men or women, the recommended limit differs. According to the CDC, men should have 2 drinks a day or less²
For Women
For women, the CDC recommends only drinking one standard drink or less per day.²

Factors such as weight, height, amount of food in the body, and hydration could potentially cause this to vary for men and women.

Is Alcohol Addictive?

Alcohol use disorder is a very real disease that affects numerous people. Alcohol is addictive because it releases endorphins inside of the reward centers in the brain.³ Alcohol use disorder can lead to health, financial, and social problems.

Statistics on Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is widely used in the United States. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 85.6% of people 18+ report that they have drunk alcohol at some point during their life.⁴

Additionally, 25.8% of people said they participated in binge drinking, which is drinking multiple standard drinks within a short period, making one intoxicated. Binge drinking consistently can lead to alcoholism, more properly known as alcohol use disorder.

Currently, 14.5 million people 12 years or older suffer from alcohol use disorder. That is nearly 7% of men and 4% of women. Out of those, 414,000 are adolescents. Because of this fact, nearly 95,000 people die every year due to alcohol-related deaths inside of the US.⁴

How Long Does It Take for Alcohol to Kick In?

The effects of alcohol can be felt within 5-10 minutes of taking a drink because alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream when consumed through the stomach and small intestine.⁵

Normally, the effects of alcohol reach their peak between 30-90 minutes after consumption. However, the effects will vary depending on how much alcohol is consumed during a timeframe. It takes the liver one hour to break down one standard drink. When someone consumes more than one standard drink per hour, their blood alcohol concentration will start to rise and drunkenness kicks in (Health Promotion Agency, n.d.).

Signs of Being Drunk

Multiple signs show someone might be drunk, including:⁶

Drowsiness
Loss of balance
Troubles with vision
Lack of coordination
Slow/poor judgment
Slowed breathing
Slowed heart rate

Before getting drunk, someone might feel tipsy. Some signs of being tipsy include:⁶

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

There are multiple signs of alcohol addiction. Some of the signs will deal more with health, while some will deal with behavioral changes.

Behavioral Signs of alcohol addiction

Some behavioral signs of alcohol addiction are as follows:⁷

An increase in the quantity of alcohol consumed
An increase in frequency
Starting to drink at inappropriate times
Avoiding situations when alcohol is not present
Wanting to be in places that serve alcohol
Avoiding contact with family and friends
Sudden changes in friendships/relationships
Hiding or concealing alcohol
Lethargy
Potentially legal issues such as DUIs
Loss of job due to use of alcohol

Physical Signs of alcohol addiction

Some physical signs of alcohol addiction are as follows:⁷

High alcohol tolerance
Lack of hangover
Lack of energy or enthusiasm
Increase in depression or mental health issues
Troubles managing emotions
Issues with heart or liver (chronic alcohol abuse)
Sex troubles
Vision troubles
Decrease in immune functioning
Ulcers

Alcohol’s Effects on the Body

There are numerous ways that alcohol affects someone’s body. If someone struggles with alcohol use disorder for an elongated period without seeking treatment, many of these issues can occur. Alcohol consumption can lead to cancer, lung infections, stomach distress, sexual issues, infertility, diarrhea, osteoporosis, cramps, numbness, and diabetes.⁸

Brain

The brain is one of the most affected areas in the body when it comes to alcohol consumption. Long-term use of alcohol can cause the frontal lobe to shrink. This shrinkage can cause a fogginess, making it difficult to make decisions, and it can cause serious behavior changes.

For some people, alcohol use disorder causes hallucinations, both short and long-term. When someone consumes too much alcohol in a short period, they may experience blackouts. Finally, people can become dependent on the substance and suffer from addiction.⁸

Heart

The leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease. Long-term alcohol abuse can damage the heart severely. Chronic drinking is the leading cause of a cardiovascular disease.⁸

Liver

The liver can only break down so much alcohol before permanent damage is done. When someone consumes large amounts of alcohol persistently, it can lead to severe liver damage. Liver damage prevents the body from properly removing harmful chemicals, eventually poisoning the person.⁸

Pancreas

Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas produces enzymes that break down fats, starches, and sugars. However, when chronic pancreatitis sets in, the pancreas will function inefficiently, causing severe symptoms and a potential medical emergency.⁸

Immune System

Excessive drinking will eventually reduce a person’s immune system, meaning the individual will be more likely to get sick from germs and viruses. Studies show that people who suffer from alcohol use disorder are more likely to develop tuberculosis or pneumonia.⁸

Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning occurs when there is too much alcohol in the bloodstream and alcohol poisons the body. Some symptoms of alcohol poisoning are:

Vomiting
Confusion
Slow or irregular breathing
Pale/Blueish skin
Seizures
Hypothermia
Unconsciousness
Inability to wake up

If you or a loved one starts showing signs of alcohol poisoning, seek medical help right away.

Myths About How to Get Alcohol Out of Your System

Several myths surround how to get alcohol out of your system. One of the biggest myths is that caffeine/coffee will help someone sober up. However, the liver can only break down one drink per hour. Alcohol will stay in your system until you’ve had enough time to break down the amount of alcohol consumed.

Another myth is that forcing yourself to throw up will help get rid of the alcohol in your body. Because alcohol flows into the bloodstream within five minutes of consuming it, throwing up will get rid of almost no alcohol. Instead, it will only make you feel sick.

Taking a shower will not help someone become alert. Eating a lot of food will not help someone sober up. Ultimately, the only thing that will get alcohol out of your system is time. Drinking water will help with hangover symptoms and dehydration. However, it will take approximately one hour per standard drink consumed for your body to break down the alcohol in your system.

Treatment Methods for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol use disorder is very serious. The withdrawal symptoms can be extreme and possibly fatal. Therefore, someone must recover under the supervision of a medical professional.

Alcohol Detox

The first step of recovery is going through detox. Many people will go through this process in a hospital or rehab center. Normally, symptoms such as anxiety, shaking, migraines, vomiting, and sweating starts to occur within six hours. After that, more serious issues can happen for several days including high blood pressure, confusion, rapid heart rate, and excessive sweating. It is necessary to detox under the care of a medical professional.

Therapies

Many people will go to therapy once they have gone through withdrawal, including drug therapy or counseling. The most common methods are cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychotherapy. The goal of therapy is to help a person learn new ways to cope with life and change their behaviors.

Ongoing Treatment for Bodily Harm

Many times, chronic alcohol use will continue to cause health issues after a person sobers up. Due to the damage that has been done to the liver, heart, lungs, and pancreas, doctors will normally continue treatment to help with such issues. Multiple check-ins per year are necessary to make sure damage does not progress into more serious health concerns down the road.

Conclusion

Alcohol has multiple harmful effects on a person’s body and mind. If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder, please reach out to a medical professional, a rehab facility, or even an Alcoholics Anonymous group in your area.

Resources

https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/ publications/practitioner /PocketGuide/ pocket_guide2.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/ fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm
https://www.webmd.com/ mental-health/addiction/ news/20120111/study-sheds-more-light-on-why-some-get-alcoholism#1
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
https://www.alcohol.org.nz/ alcohol-its-effects/about-alcohol/what-happens-when-you-drink-alcohol
https://www.healthline.com/ health/what-does-it-feel-like-to-be-drunk
https://www.healthline.com/ health/addiction/alcohol
https://www.healthline.com/ health/alcohol/effects-on-body

alcohol's worst effect on Your Body

The effects of alcohol have several dangerous and possibly fatal impacts on the body. Alcohol use disorder can lead to health issues that will last a lifetime.