Let’s face it: We all know that drinking too much alcohol isn’t healthy or good for the body for a lot of reasons. Whether you have a little too much fun at a weekend braai and totally feel it the next morning, or you indulge in a few drinks during the week with minimal effects at all, you may be curious as to what your habits mean for your long-term health.
Too many alcoholic drinks doesn’t just contribute to not-fun next-day effects like a raging hangover. According to the South African National Department of Health, excessive alcohol use can lead to alcohol abuse or dependence and increase your chances of developing chronic conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, liver disease and digestive issues, as well as a weakened immune system. It’s also tied to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Also, ignore the myth that your body recognises different liquors differently. Your liver doesn’t register a glass of wine any differently from a mixed cocktail—it only processes alcohol. If one drink has a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) than the other, your liver will have to work harder.
Both the short-term and long-term effects of drinking too much are likely enough to make you want to get your habits in check and get a better handle on what your limits are or should be. Here, a physician breaks down the alcohol metabolism process and how booze can be detected in your body.
How Alcohol Is Metabolised by the Body
Alcohol metabolism is partially based on a person’s individual alcohol use habits as well as their genetic makeup, says Suneet Singh, MD, an emergency room physician and medical director of CareHive Health.
According to Dr. Singh, the vast majority of the alcohol you drink is metabolised by your liver, while a very small amount is fully digested with no side effects.
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“The path alcohol takes from consumption to elimination involves a metabolism process that first starts in the stomach where various enzymes begin the overall breakdown cycle,” he explains. “Most of the alcohol passes unaltered into the small intestine where absorption into the bloodstream takes place, and upon reaching the bloodstream, alcohol is predominantly transported to the liver where over 90% of its metabolism occurs.”
Once it reaches the liver, alcohol is converted into a chemical called acetaldehyde, the substance responsible for the not-fun effects that can come with even small amounts of alcohol consumption, including headaches, nausea, and heart palpitations, explains Dr. Singh.
How Long It Takes To Clear Alcohol From Your Body
“Generally speaking, one standard drink (i.e. 340ml of beer, 150ml of wine, or 45ml of 80-proof distilled spirits) peaks in the bloodstream about one hour after consumption,” he explains.
It takes about five half-lives to process and eliminate alcohol from your system completely, where the half-life of alcohol tends to be about four to five hours, explains Dr. Singh. “In turn, it takes about a day for the body to fully clear one serving of alcohol.”
Thankfully, the physical symptoms of drinking alcohol and intoxication resolve much sooner than completion of the overall metabolism cycle, he says.
How Long Alcohol Is Detectable in Your System
If you’re concerned about how much alcohol is in your system because you have to drive yourself home or get to work the next day, genetic factors, enzyme levels, alcohol quantity, and alcohol strength all play a role, along with other factors such as age, body mass, and overall health—as well as how it’s being tested, Dr. Singh says.
In general, though, alcohol can be detected:
- In the blood for up to 12 hours
- On the breath for 12 to 24 hours
- In the urine for 12 to 72 hours
- In saliva for 12 to 48 hours, and
- In hair for up to 90 days
Everyone Metabolises Alcohol Differently
According to Dr. Singh, both genetic and environmental factors contribute to these levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), two enzymes present in the liver that affect the rate at which your body metabolises alcohol.
“Studies have shown that males tend to have higher amounts of ADH than females, and people who consume alcohol regularly tend to have lower amounts of ADH compared to those who drink less often,” he says. “Research has also demonstrated that around 35-40% of people of East Asian descent have lower amounts of ALDH compared to other ethnicities.”
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In short, the fewer alcohol-metabolising enzymes you have, the longer it takes for your body to metabolise alcohol—as well as more physical symptoms like nausea and headaches.
How much you drink and how strong your alcohol of choice is also plays a role in metabolism and enzyme levels, with higher amounts unsurprisingly contributing to longer processing times, Dr. Singh says.
The South African Context
South Africa has one of the highest per-capita alcohol consumption rates in the world, and alcohol is a major contributor to road accidents. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, alcohol is a factor in more than 25% of fatal crashes.
If you’re planning to drive, remember that the legal blood alcohol limit in South Africa is 0.05g per 100ml for normal drivers, and 0.02g per 100ml for professional drivers—effectively close to zero tolerance. That means even a single drink could put you over the legal limit depending on your body size, gender, and how recently you drank.
The Bottom Line
How long it takes alcohol to clear your system, as well as how it can affect you physically, can easily vary by person. Take note of how you tend to feel after drinking any amount of alcohol and take steps to avoid those undesirable short-term effects, as well as the long-term effects that can come with too much alcohol consumption. And if you’re getting behind the wheel in South Africa, it’s always safest to avoid alcohol completely.
This article by Emilia Benton was originally published on Men’s Health US – additional reporting and products added by the Men’s Health SA team.
