TAM Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) & Alcohol Absorption 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which body composition factor most significantly contributes to higher BAC in women compared to men after consuming the same amount of alcohol?
- Women have faster heart rates
- Women generally have a higher percentage of body fat and less body water (Correct answer)
- Women produce more stomach acid
- Women's livers are smaller relative to body size
Correct answer: Women generally have a higher percentage of body fat and less body water
Alcohol is water-soluble; because women typically have more body fat and less total body water than men of similar weight, alcohol becomes more concentrated in their bloodstream.
Question 2: What does the term 'proof' indicate on an alcoholic beverage label in the United States?
- The number of calories per serving
- Twice the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV) (Correct answer)
- The fermentation age of the spirit
- The maximum serving size in ounces
Correct answer: Twice the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV)
In the U.S., proof is exactly double the ABV percentage — so 80-proof whiskey is 40% alcohol by volume.
Question 3: At approximately what BAC do most people begin to show measurable signs of impairment, even if they do not feel drunk?
- 0.02% (Correct answer)
- 0.05%
- 0.08%
- 0.10%
Correct answer: 0.02%
Research shows that judgment and divided attention begin to decline at BAC levels as low as 0.02%, well before the legal limit.
Question 4: Which of the following will effectively lower a person's BAC?
- Drinking coffee or an energy drink
- Eating a large meal after drinking
- Waiting for time to pass so the liver can metabolize the alcohol (Correct answer)
- Taking a cold shower
Correct answer: Waiting for time to pass so the liver can metabolize the alcohol
Only time allows the liver to metabolize alcohol and lower BAC; coffee, food after drinking, and cold showers do not speed this process.
Question 5: How does carbonation in alcoholic beverages (such as champagne or mixed drinks with soda) affect alcohol absorption?
- It slows absorption by coating the stomach lining
- It has no effect on absorption rate
- It speeds up absorption by increasing stomach motility (Correct answer)
- It reduces the alcohol content of the beverage
Correct answer: It speeds up absorption by increasing stomach motility
Carbonation increases stomach motility and opens the pyloric valve, causing alcohol to pass more quickly into the small intestine where absorption is most rapid.
Question 6: Approximately what percentage of consumed alcohol is metabolized by the liver, with the remainder eliminated through breath, sweat, and urine?
- 50–60%
- 70–75%
- 90–95% (Correct answer)
- 99–100%
Correct answer: 90–95%
The liver metabolizes roughly 90–95% of alcohol, while about 5–10% is excreted unchanged through the lungs, kidneys, and skin.
Question 7: What is the approximate rate at which the liver eliminates alcohol in most adults?
- 0.01–0.02% BAC per hour
- 0.015–0.02% BAC per hour (Correct answer)
- 0.05% BAC per hour
- 0.10% BAC per hour
Correct answer: 0.015–0.02% BAC per hour
On average, the liver reduces BAC by approximately 0.015–0.02% per hour, equivalent to roughly one standard drink per hour.
TAM Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) & Alcohol Absorption 2
Which body composition factor most significantly contributes to higher BAC in women compared to men after consuming the same amount of alcohol?