How does alcohol affect the body?
Quick Answer
Alcohol is absorbed into the blood, slows the brain by boosting calming signals, and is broken down by the liver at about one standard drink per hour.
The Full Story
About 20 percent of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and the rest through the small intestine, reaching the brain within minutes. There it enhances the calming neurotransmitter GABA and suppresses excitatory glutamate, slowing reactions, judgement and coordination. The liver breaks alcohol down using the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound, and then into harmless acetate, at a rate of roughly one standard drink per hour. Alcohol also suppresses the hormone vasopressin, making you urinate more and contributing to dehydration. In 2023 the World Health Organization stated that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health, noting its links to at least seven types of cancer.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"How Does Alcohol Affect the Body — From First Sip to Hangover"