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Home  »  Facts About Alcohol  »  Alcohol and the body

Alcohol and the body

Alcohol is primarily absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestines. The bloodstream carries the alcohol to the brain resulting in progressive impairment.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. It is measured by the number of grams of alcohol in 100ml of blood. For example, a BAC of .05 means .05 grams of alcohol in every 100ml of blood.

• The legal limit for BAC for fully licensed car drivers is below 0.05 (gram/100ml)
• A BAC in excess of .15% can cause considerable depression of the central nervous system.
• Other drugs capable of depressing the central nervous system will increase the effects of alcohol on the brain.

As BAC increases, it can lead to unconsciousness. In extreme circumstances, it can retard the part of your brain that controls breathing and cause death. Alcohol poisoning is death by asphyxiation. This can occur with a BAC greater than 0.40%.