Things That Affect Alcohol Tolerance

People have been enjoying alcohol for thousands of years. In fact, some archaeological evidence has pointed to the existence of purposely fermented beverages in the Neolithic period at about 10,000 B.C. While alcohol now serves mainly as a social lubricant, it once provided people with the only source of clean, sterilized drinking because water was usually tainted with sewage or other wastes, carrying a number of diseases. Over the thousands of years of drinking, we are learning more and more about the factors that affect our alcohol tolerance.

First, it is important to realize the genetic implications of alcohol tolerance. Some studies have shown that the ability to tolerate alcohol can be passed down genetically. Researchers believe this because descendants from ethnic groups who have long participated in alcohol consumption, such as Europeans, have higher tolerance than groups who have not had alcohol present in their culture for very long, such as Native Americans.

Additionally, in contrast to alcohol tolerance, alcoholism is also thought to be somewhat genetic. You may be predisposed to becoming dependent upon alcohol if a relative of yours has also struggled with the problem.

Next, gender also affects a person’s ability to tolerate alcohol. While many people believe that men have a better tolerance than women, females actually have more enzymes that process the substance. Although this results in flushing alcohol out of the body sooner, it also results in women achieving a higher blood alcohol content, or BAC, faster than men.

On the other hand, women’s ability to process alcohol faster than men is often overshadowed by their higher body fat percentage. Alcohol gets stored in fat, so the higher a person’s body fat percentage is, the faster they typically feel the effects of alcohol. Additionally, it can stay in the system longer rather than being flushed out and lowering your BAC. People with more muscle flush alcohol out of the body faster as well. Lastly, the bigger a person is, the more water they usually have in their system, which also helps rid the body of the substance.

It’s also true that a person can develop tolerance from drinking frequently. The body’s liver produces more enzymes that digest alcohol, and the brain gets used to operating with some of its receptors dulled to the physical effects of alcohol. There are different types of alcohol tolerance, based on how your body becomes used to the substance. This includes everything from instantaneous tolerance to even environmental tolerance.

Sometimes, if you have a high tolerance for alcohol, you may be tempted to drive after drinking. However, even if you may not feel the effects of the substance, your BAC will still reflect that you’ve been drinking-possibly over the legal amount. This can result in a DWI or other such citation, which can permanently mar your record.

If you or someone you know has gotten a DWI, you should speak to a lawyer about the next steps that you can take in dealing with this ticket. To find a DWI attorney in your area, check out the Legal City Attorney Search Directory today.

Joseph Devine