SIR Alcohol and the Body 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organ is primarily responsible for metabolizing alcohol in the body?
- The kidneys
- The liver (Correct answer)
- The stomach
- The lungs
Correct answer: The liver
The liver is the primary organ that metabolizes alcohol, processing roughly one standard drink per hour.
Question 2: Approximately how long does it take for the liver to process one standard drink?
- 30 minutes
- 45 minutes
- 1 hour (Correct answer)
- 2 hours
Correct answer: 1 hour
On average, the liver can metabolize one standard drink per hour regardless of coffee, food, or other remedies.
Question 3: What percentage of consumed alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach lining?
- About 5%
- About 20% (Correct answer)
- About 50%
- About 80%
Correct answer: About 20%
Approximately 20% of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach, while the remaining 80% is absorbed through the small intestine.
Question 4: How does eating food before or during drinking affect alcohol absorption?
- It speeds up absorption into the bloodstream
- It prevents alcohol from being absorbed at all
- It slows the rate of alcohol absorption (Correct answer)
- It has no measurable effect on absorption
Correct answer: It slows the rate of alcohol absorption
Food in the stomach slows gastric emptying, which delays alcohol passing to the small intestine and slows absorption into the bloodstream.
Question 5: Which type of beverage is absorbed most rapidly into the bloodstream?
- Beverages with no carbonation
- Beverages mixed with juice
- Carbonated or sparkling alcoholic beverages (Correct answer)
- Beverages served with ice
Correct answer: Carbonated or sparkling alcoholic beverages
Carbonation increases the rate at which alcohol moves from the stomach to the small intestine, accelerating absorption into the bloodstream.
Question 6: What does the term 'Blood Alcohol Concentration' (BAC) measure?
- The number of drinks consumed in one hour
- The percentage of alcohol in a beverage
- The amount of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream (Correct answer)
- The rate at which a person metabolizes alcohol
Correct answer: The amount of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream
BAC measures the grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood, expressed as a percentage, indicating how much alcohol is circulating in the body.
Question 7: Which of the following factors can affect how quickly a person becomes intoxicated?
- The colour of the alcohol
- Body weight and composition (Correct answer)
- The temperature of the room
- The type of glass used
Correct answer: Body weight and composition
Body weight and composition affect how alcohol is distributed in the body; people with less body mass or higher body fat typically reach higher BAC levels from the same amount of alcohol.
SIR Alcohol and the Body 1
Which organ is primarily responsible for metabolizing alcohol in the body?