Ft. Walton Beach, Florida DUI Defense Lawyer
How is Alcohol absorbed by the Body?
Alcohol is absorbed into the blood through the stomach and small intestine. Here, alcohol enters blood vessels lining the wall of both. The vast majority of alcohol absorption - roughly 80% - takes place in the small intestine. Once it is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is metabolized by enzymes in the liver.
These enzymes break alcohol down at the rate of about one ounce of alcohol every hour. This is equivalent to one drink. If a person drinks more than one ounce of alcohol an hour, the liver cannot break all of the alcohol down fast enough. When this happens, the amount of alcohol in the blood increases, resulting in varying degrees of drunkenness depending on how much alcohol a person has drunk. This is why a person can drink a number of shots quickly but remain drunk hours later.
How many Ounces of Alcohol do different Drinks have in Them?
While some foreign and micro-brewed domestic beers have more alcohol content than many popular brand name beers, in general, a 12 ounce beer is the equivalent of one drink. One shot of whiskey, scotch, vodka, bourbon, and or other 80 proof hard alcohol is equivalent to one drink. A typical 5 ounce glass of red or white wine usually has about 1 ounce of alcohol in it as well.
Alcohol and Its Effect on the Body
Alcohol is a depressant, affecting the body's central nervous system. In contrast to stimulants, depressants slow down the body's normal functioning. As a result, as more alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream, a person's reaction time decreases, motor skills and coordination are impeded, and thinking and speech confused. In cases involving alcohol poisoning, breathing slows down and a person slips into a coma.
Determining Your Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)
Your BAL will depend on your bodyweight, how much you drink, and the time period involved. In order to determine what your blood alcohol level will be if you consume a certain number of drinks in the course of an hour, this chart should be consulted.
Contact DUI Defense Attorney Tim Flaherty Today
If you've been arrested on charges of drunk driving, contact DUI defense attorney Tim Flaherty today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Due to problems associated with breathalyzers and how field sobriety tests are administered, a positive reading on a breath test does not necessarily mean you were drunk or the charges against you will hold up in court. Call today to learn how I can help you.
