Responsible alcohol use can include CHOOSING NOT TO DRINK alcohol (especially if you are under the age of 21) and/or choosing to consume a moderate amount of alcohol based on your size and gender.
There are four factors that are the most important in determining how alcohol affects you or your friends. Understanding these things can help you to stay safe or help to understand how intoxicated a friend may be.
Weight: Given similar amounts of alcohol consumed, smaller people get more intoxicated than bigger people. However, your body fat percentage plays a role...the higher your body fat percentage, the more you will be affected by alcohol.
Gender: Women are affected by alcohol more so than men. Generally, women are smaller, have a higher percentage of body fat, and have less of the enzyme in their body that breaks down alcohol.
Quantity: The following all contain the same amount (0.5 ounce) of pure ethyl alcohol and are considered a standard drink:
12 oz. standard beer
10 oz. of most microbrews
8 oz. malt liquor
4-5 oz. table wine
2.5 oz. of fortified wine (i.e. Mad Dog)
1.25 oz. of 80 proof hard liquor
1.0 oz. of 100 proof hard liquor
.75 oz. of 151 proof hard liquor (i.e. Bacardi 151)
.50 oz. of 180 proof hard liquor (i.e. Everclear)
Drinking Rate: How fast you drink can greatly influence the effect of alcohol on your system. Think of your body like a funnel, no matter how fast you pour liquid into the funnel, it will only come out the bottom at a certain rate. If you pour too much, the funnel (your body) can overflow (alcohol poisoning).
On average, it takes roughly 20 minutes for alcohol to get into your system once you drink it.
It takes roughly 45-60 minutes for each standard drink to be removed from your body.
For more information about making safer decisions about drinking alcohol:
On Campus
Student Health Services
Health Promotion Department
Marilee Muirhead, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator
Phone: 541-737-7552
Counseling and Psychological Services
5th Floor Snell Hall
Phone: 541-737-2131
http://oregonstate.edu/counsel
Other websites
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov
