How long does alcohol stay in your body?

Have you ever thought about how long alcohol stays in your body after your last drink? Whether you’re getting ready for a party, planning the next morning, or just curious, we’re going to explain it all to you – with a little bit of humor to keep things interesting!

The science behind alcohol in your body

Here’s the thing: When you drink your favorite drink (whether it’s beer, wine, or something stronger), your body starts working to break it down. This process is called metabolism, which changes the alcohol into energy or gets it ready to leave your body. Guess who the real star is here? Your liver. Yes, your liver does the main work, processing about one alcoholic drink every hour. But, it’s not the same for everyone. Your weight, height, gender, and how your body is made can all make this process faster or slower.

How long can alcohol be found in your body?

The answer to this depends on where you’re looking and what kind of test is used. Different parts of your body keep signs of alcohol for different amounts of time. Here’s a simple guide:

• Blood: Up to 6 hours after your last drink
• Breath: About 12–24 hours
• Saliva (spit): Around 12–20 hours
• Urine (pee): About 12–20 hours
• Hair: Believe it or not, up to 90 days (that’s months!)

Think of it like alcohol leaving a party in stages. It says a quick goodbye to your blood, but it stays in your hair for a long time, like a guest who doesn’t want to leave.

Drink slow, eat food, and don’t rely on an instant cure. No amount of coffee or cold showers can magically sober you up.

Understanding how alcohol is measured

When you hear about alcohol tests, they don’t measure all the alcohol you drank. These tests check something called your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). BAC is how much alcohol is in your blood, measured as grams of ethanol in 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath.

Here’s a fun fact (or a party trick that might be useful): one standard drink makes your BAC go up by about 0.02. It takes your body about one hour to process that one drink.

What things decide how long alcohol stays in your body?

That’s a really good question! There are many things that play a part. Let’s understand some science!

• Gender: Women often break down alcohol more slowly than men because they usually have more fat and less water in their bodies. (Sorry, ladies!)
• Food: Did you eat before or while you were drinking? Good job. Food makes your body absorb alcohol more slowly, so it takes longer for you to feel it – but it also stays in your body longer.
• Body Build: People who are smaller and lighter might feel the effects of alcohol much faster and break it down more slowly than someone who is taller or has more muscle.
• Medicine: Some medicines can trick your body and change how it breaks down alcohol. If you’re taking antibiotics or antidepressants, it’s best to talk to your doctor.

How quickly does alcohol affect you?

Relax with your first drink, and you’ll probably feel it within minutes. That’s because alcohol gets absorbed quickly in your stomach and small intestine, goes into your blood fast, and heads straight to your brain. That’s how you start to feel tipsy (or giggle a lot) so quickly. Of course, the same things we just talked about (gender, food, etc.) all affect how fast this happens.

Can you drive after drinking alcohol?

The short answer? Probably not. Even if you stop drinking a long time before you plan to drive, the amount of alcohol in your blood might still be too high. Since your body takes about one hour to get rid of the alcohol from one drink, drinking a lot the night before often means you might not be safe to drive the next morning. The safest thing to do is not drink any alcohol at all if you know you will need to drive.

The Last Drink

How long alcohol stays in your body isn’t just a fun fact; it’s helpful information for anyone who likes to have a drink but wants to be smart about it. And remember, everyone’s body is different, so what happens can change from person to person! When you’re not sure, it’s best to be careful and plan ahead. Cheers to drinking in a way that’s informed and responsible!