Understanding Alcohol Detox: How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

What Is a Standard Drink?

Before we can discuss how the alcohol detox process works and understand how long alcohol stays in your system, we need to start by learning what a standard drink is. 

A standard drink is a measure that is commonly used to quantify alcohol consumption. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), one standard drink contains 14 grams (or 0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol.

Most people will be surprised to learn what is considered “one” drink. Here are some examples using different alcoholic beverages:

• Beer: a 12-ounce bottle of beer with 5% alcohol concentration.

• Wine: 5 ounces of wine with 12% alcohol concentration.

• Spirits: 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (e.g., Whisky, Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Gin, etc) with 40% alcohol concentration.

How long does it take to feel the effects of alcohol after having a drink?

You will probably start feeling the effects of alcohol within minutes after having a drink. It can usually take about 10 to 30 minutes on average. 

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

This depends on various factors, such as the quantity of alcohol you have consumed, the type of test used to measure it, and other individual factors. But, generally speaking, it can be measured in your blood up to 12 hours after your last drink, although it can be much longer when measured by other tests. 

Here are some approximate detection times for different tests:

Note that other factors, such as the timing, metabolic variations, and the calibration and quality of devices, may influence the accuracy of these tests. 

How is alcohol measured in your body?

A blood test typically measures blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. The BAC levels are the ratio of alcohol to blood volume, thus representing how much alcohol is in 100 ml of blood. They can be expressed as percentages (0.08%) or proportions with decimals (.08). For example, a BAC of 0.08 (the legal limit for driving in the US) means that there are 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. 

While the other types of tests, besides blood alcohol tests, can give you an estimation of the BAC, they are considered less accurate. 

BAC Levels and Effects

As you start consuming more alcohol, your BAC levels begin to increase. A standard drink usually raises your BAC levels by 0.02% within 45 to 60 minutes.

The effects that might be seen with different BAC level cutoffs are:

Understanding Alcohol Metabolism

After alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed through the stomach (20%) and small intestine (80%). Because no digestion is needed, it enters directly into the bloodstream after its absorption and then reaches the rest of the body. 

Having food in your stomach can prevent alcohol from getting in contact with the stomach lining or slow the transit into the small intestine. Therefore slightly slowing alcohol absorption. 

Once alcohol gets into the bloodstream, it eventually enters the liver, where it is metabolized, and your body can detox.

How Alcohol is Metabolized in the Liver

Most alcohol metabolism takes place in the liver. Generally speaking, your liver can metabolize 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol in one hour (which is equivalent to one standard drink per hour). If you consume more than one drink per hour, the system can become saturated, increasing BAC levels. Alcohol excess also accumulates in other tissues until it can be metabolized. 

So, how does the liver get rid of alcohol? Well, some liver enzymes (special types of proteins that help speed up chemical reactions) work together on the following processes:

• First Step: Alcohol metabolism begins with the oxidation of alcohol by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This enzyme converts alcohol (ethanol) into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is very toxic and is largely responsible for the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover (E.g., headache, nausea, and vomiting).

• Second Step: The final step of alcohol metabolism is the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate. This is done by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetate is not harmful and can be further broken down into water and carbon dioxide.

After alcohol is metabolized into less harmful substances, it then is finally excreted through the breath, urine, and sweat. 

Factors Affecting Alcohol Elimination

The process of alcohol metabolism usually happens at a constant rate. However, some people may have high BAC levels for longer periods. This is mainly due to the influence of several factors that can affect the rate at which alcohol is metabolized. Some of these factors are: 

Can You Speed Up Your Body's Alcohol Elimination Capacity?

Although some of the above factors may slow the elimination of alcohol, no external factor is within your control that can help you speed up the liver's metabolic rate.

While rehydration can help you to recover from alcohol more quickly, it does not affect the rate at which your body metabolizes alcohol. 

Conclusion

Understanding how long alcohol stays in your system involves recognizing the complex process of alcohol metabolism and the various factors that can influence this detoxification. While the liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing alcohol, individual differences can affect the rate at which alcohol is eliminated. On average, the liver can process one standard drink per hour, but this can vary among individuals. Knowing these factors can help you make informed decisions about alcohol consumption and manage your drinking habits responsibly. 

Better Addiction Care is here to help you. If you feel like you or one of your loved ones is struggling with alcohol, our helpline at (800) 429-7690 is available 24/7 for you. Call to get help now!