Statistics show that our body eliminates about 3 to 4 ounces of alcohol in an hour. So, on an average, a moderate drunk person will most likely sober up in like 6 to 8 hours. However, how alcohol affects you or how long does being drunk last depends on many different factors. It can depend on how many you drink, what you are drinking, your alcohol tolerance, and so on.
Alcohol absorption and metabolism
About 20% of alcohol absorption takes place in the small intestine. Depending on how much you weigh, the rate of absorption differs. The more you weigh, the slower absorption gets.
Then the alcohol moves on to the liver after its absorption into the blood for alcohol metabolism. The liver can metabolize only about 10 ml or one unit of alcohol per hour.
However, how fast or slow the alcohol metabolism takes place depends on several factors. Read further to know more.
What affects how fast you get drunk?
How quickly you get drunk varies greatly according to some biological and physiological factors.
- Gender- Female bodies tend to have fewer enzymes, which helps in breaking down alcohol. Thus, females have a higher BAC percentage of alcohol in their bloodstream than males.
- Weight- People with lower body mass tend to have higher BAC than those with higher body mass, even after the same quantity of drinks.
- Drinking with an empty stomach- This leads to quicker alcohol absorption into the bloodstream, and the longer you will be drunk.
Other factors also include the tolerance level. If you are a frequent drinker, your body will quickly adapt with it and develop your tolerance to alcohol.
How many beers to get drunk?
A standard measurement of one drink is a 12-ounce beer, which is about 4% alcohol. So you can drink a standard one beer per hour and go all day without getting seriously drunk.
But if you’re drinking 4-5 bottles in an hour, you’re likely to get drunk.
Signs you are drunk
Most people consider themselves drunk after experiencing:
drowsiness, slurred speech, impaired judgment, muscle incoordination, trouble concentrating, lower alertness.
Stages of being drunk
There are seven stages of being drunk, although this may vary from person to person.
They are:
Sober, euphoric, excitement, confusion, stupor, coma, and death.
How to sober up fast from being drunk?
The best way to lower your BAC is by patiently waiting it out. But there are a few things you can do to help quicken and get alcohol out of your system.
Such as:
Sleeping, exercising, hydrating, drinking coffee.
Conclusion
There is no exact answer as to how long does it take for alcohol to get out of your system. Our body absorbs alcohol at a different rate, and thus you can’t control and predict how long you’ll be drunk.
So, enjoy the process while your body does its thing.
References
- https://letssoberup.com/how-long-does-being-drunk-last/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-much-does-it-take-to-get-drunk
- https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/alcohol-abuse/faq/drunk/
