Alcohol is a commonly misused substance with both positive and negative connotations. Some people share a drink with their loved ones to celebrate the holidays, milestones, or personal achievements. Others use alcohol as a social lubricant to cope with anxiety or drink to numb symptoms of depression or excess stress.
Regardless of the situation, alcohol can endanger your well-being, especially if you drive or operate machinery while it is still in your system. So, how long does alcohol stay in your system, and when is it safe to resume driving or other activities that require sobriety?
Knowing how long it will take for alcohol to leave your body is important. But if you find it difficult to abstain from drinking, you may have an alcohol use disorder. Thankfully, this is a treatable condition, and with the help of My 5 Palms, you can end your dependence on alcohol. Call us at 1.844.675.1022 to learn more about our alcohol rehab in Florida.
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?
There is no simple answer to how long it takes for alcohol to leave your system. There are several factors that can impact how long the process takes, such as:
Body Composition
A person with a higher muscle mass will absorb alcohol more quickly. In contrast, a person with a higher percentage of body fat will absorb alcohol more slowly, extending the duration of the substance in their system.
Food
The presence of food in your stomach prior to or during alcohol consumption helps slow down the absorption of the alcohol. So, although you may not feel as intoxicated if you eat while drinking, the alcohol will remain in your system longer than if consumed on an empty stomach.
Liver Health
If you have a health condition correlated with liver impairment, it will take longer for your body to process the alcohol, as the liver is the primary organ used for this function.
Drinking Behavior
If you binge drink, your liver will not be able to metabolize the alcohol as efficiently. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks in a sitting for women and five or more for men. This is usually assumed to be a two-hour period. Generally, men can metabolize two drinks per hour, and women can metabolize one. Anything beyond this can be extremely taxing on the liver, leading to alcohol remaining in the system for longer.
Understanding the Alcohol Metabolism Timeline
After you begin drinking, alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream relatively quickly through your stomach and small intestine. It usually takes about 30 to 90 minutes to reach peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Although women can metabolize one drink per hour and men can metabolize two, that does not mean that the BAC is back down to zero at that point. Alcohol can still be in your system and show up on a blood alcohol test. So, how long will it take for the alcohol to leave your system and your BAC to drop to zero?
You can calculate your estimated alcohol metabolism timeline by using the following:
- On average, alcohol is metabolized at a rate between .015 and .020 BAC per hour.
- One standard drink will bring the BAC to somewhere between .020 and .040.
- One drink is equivalent to 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1 oz of liquor.
Since body composition and other factors can impact these figures, keep that in mind when determining how long it will take for you to be safe to drive or complete other important tasks.
However, to provide a little more clarity, consider that the average American man weighs just under 200 lbs. His BAC will likely drop to zero approximately one hour after having one drink. The average weight for American women is 170 lbs, so it would take them one and a half to two hours to achieve a zero BAC after one drink.
Call My 5 Palms to Get Help for Alcohol Use Disorder
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol dependence, now is the time to seek help. At My 5 Palms, we offer compassionate, professional support tailored to your unique needs. Don’t let alcohol dictate your future—call us today at 1.844.675.1022 or contact us online and discover how our expert team in Florida can help you achieve sobriety. Taking that first step may be daunting, but remember, you don’t have to do it alone.
