Here’s what happens in your body when you consume alcohol.
No matter what you’re drinking (beer, wine, liquor), your body treats all alcohol the same. Here’s what happens after the first mouthful.
1. A small amount is immediately absorbed through your mouth and into your bloodstream.
2. Your stomach will absorb roughly 20% of the total alcohol and pass that on to your bloodstream. The absorption rate depends on whether you have recently eaten, etc. If your stomach is empty, then more alcohol will end up in the small intestine. You will feel the effects much quicker as a result.
3. Next, your small intestine will process roughly 80 percent of the total alcohol consumed and send it to the bloodstream.
4. The alcohol is now carried to your liver and other organs via your bloodstream. Your liver goes to work metabolizing the alcohol in your blood. It can process one drink an hour on average. Any more than that and your BAC (blood alcohol content) level rises, and you become more impaired. 90% of the alcohol in your bloodstream is metabolized by your liver and is eventually expelled as carbon dioxide and water. The remaining is excreted via urine and sweat.
5. Alcohol is a diuretic. Therefore you are going to urinate more water than you consume, leading to possible dehydration. In short, it interferes with the re-absorption of water back into the body. Instead, it is directed to the bladder.
6. The alcohol circulating in your bloodstream makes its way to the brain, and the effect can be felt within minutes of consumption. Happiness, well-being, self-confidence, and euphoria are common with a few drinks. Keep drinking and, as your BAC rises, you may start feeling tired, agitated, and disoriented. You may also start slurring your words. Keep drinking past that, and it becomes dangerous. You may vomit, blackout, or even die if you’ve consumed enough.
Long term effects are many. These include addiction, damage to your liver, brain, and pancreas. Not to mention cardiovascular disease and cancer.
