. Why does alcohol circulate in the bloodstream several hours after it was first
ingested?
2. Name three effects that Alcohol typically has on most people?
5. As a waiter/bartender, how might you determine when a guest is starting to get drunk?
The liver does this at the rate of one-third to one-half ounce per hour; the
rest of the alcohol continues to circulate in the bloodstream. This amount is less
than that contained in a typical 11
⁄2-ounce cocktail made with an 80-proof spirit.
When this amount is multiplied by several drinks, it is clear that alcohol will still
be circulating in the bloodstream several hours after it has been ingested. Consider
that:
The liver metabolizes about 90 percent of the alcohol consumed. The liver is
the organ most often affected by alcoholism since it is the ‘‘first defense’’ organ
(after the stomach) to attempt to disperse the alcohol. The remaining 10 percent
is eliminated through the lungs and urine.
Alcohol reaches the brain within a few minutes of entering the bloodstream.