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How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your System?

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    When alcohol is ingested, the body begins to metabolize it. During this process, the alcohol enters the bloodstream, passes through the internal organs, and is then excreted through breath, urine, and sweat. Because it takes time for alcohol to enter your bloodstream after you drink it, your blood alcohol level can actually rise for a time after you’ve had your last drink.
    Sweating, breathing, and going to the bathroom excrete only a small amount of the alcohol—which is why most screening tests require a blood sample. The alcohol will be detectable in your bloodstream far longer than it will for a simple breath test.
    Using a breath test, one ounce of alcohol is generally no longer detectable in one to two hours, depending on the size and sex of the person. This also assumes one, one-ounce drink of alcohol, with no alcohol ingested for several hours or days before that. One ounce of alcohol will have a greater effect on a 100-pound female than it will on a 300-pound male. And whether fair or not, alcohol stays in a female’s system longer than a male’s because of the fact that women metabolize alcohol differently than men do.
    A blood test, however, can detect smaller amounts of alcohol and for longer periods. Small amounts of alcohol ingestion (one to three ounces) may still be detectable in the blood ten to twelve hours later—again, depending on the person. These figures are also for a non-habitual user, or the occasional drinker. A habitual drinker’s blood and internal organs will "store" the alcohol from successive drinking sessions, and it takes much longer—sometimes up to a week—to eliminate enough alcohol from the system to pass a blood alcohol screening.
    To metabolize alcohol out of your system, it must pass through your liver. A perfectly-functioning liver can metabolize an ounce of alcohol per hour—about one standard drink. Heavy drinkers, whose liver may be impaired, may metabolize much less than that, and would need to allow a much longer time before taking a blood alcohol test.
    You cannot speed up your liver’s functioning. This is why drinking large amounts quickly or chugging drinks can become fatal. What the liver can’t process, the blood must store, and alcohol poisoning can be the result. If planning for a blood alcohol test, it’s best not to drink any alcoholic drink for several hours to a day or two prior to the test date to give yourself the best chance for a clear test result.
    12 0

    Haha11 

    answered 1 year ago

    Do you know if you have hep. C and alcohol processes slower than normal through the liver, if it stays in your blood even longer than a person without hep. C.
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    Charlotte8

    Charlotte8

    commented 1 year ago

      Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream and can leave the body either through metabolism or through urine, breath and perspiration. About ninety percent of alcohol remain in the blood stream and needs to leave the body through metabolism alone.

      How long alcohol stays in the blood stream of a person depends on the rate of metabolism. The rate at which alcohol is metabolized is about .015 BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) in an hour. Accordingly, a person with blood alcohol concentration of .15 becomes totally free of alcohol content in his bloodstream after about ten hours.

      There is no way to speed up alcohol metabolism. Alcohol metabolism rate remains the same irrespective of taking non-alcoholic drinks, exercising, bathing or similar activities. A person can only control the level of blood alcohol concentration by drinking less. Thus the only way to get rid of alcohol from your system fast enough is to control the level of blood alcohol concentration.
      4 1
      Guest

      Guest 

      answered 3 years ago

        A standard pint of beer or lager takes between 2-3 hours to leave your system.
        3 0

        Paul 

        answered 3 years ago

        My question is this if someone has been drinking for a week straight and consums at least a case of beer a day, how long will it stay in his system??
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        Guest

        Guest

        commented 1 year ago

        Alcohol stays in the system, depending on how much you have drunken, every hour that go's past your system gets rid of one drink.

          Your best to pace yourself to one drink an hour, or to drink a fluid like water in between drinks to help your system along and never drink on an empty stomach, that's just asking for trouble.
        3 1

        Ghettostar 

        answered 3 years ago

        I wouldn't rely on this. I was out with some girlfriends and drank just under one glass of wine per hour, for approximately 5 hours and then blew a .198 and spent 2 nights in jail. It was the WORST experience of my life and I thought I was being responsible. I would STRONGLY suggest you reconsider!!!!!!!! By the way, I am an average size girl, 5'6" and 140-150 lbs, not some light weight.
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        Kateandchr

        Kateandchr

        commented 10 months ago

        Your body will metabolize one ounce of alcohol (one mixed drink, one beer or one glass of wine) per hour.

        This can be affected by your metabolism, what you have eaten recently and physical activity.
        2 1

        Jtwemlow 

        answered 3 years ago

        WRONG, WRONG and WRONG!!!!!!!! Normal adult, white, male will metabolize ONE HALF ounce of pure alcohol per hour. Women, Asiatic & Native Americans and people weighing under 145lbs will generally metabolize alcohol more slowly.

        I beg you all; BEGGING mind you, if there's ANY question at all in your mind as to whether your okay to drive or not, DON'T!

        No lecture, no ticket, no handcuffs. Just Love.

        God Bless You All,

        Capt. R. Burns
        (The cop who doesn't want you in his JAIL)
        Report
        Guest

        Guest

        commented 2 years ago

          The average, or standard drink stays in the body for about 1 hour...these would include a 12 ounce beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liqour.
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          Bijou9586 

          answered 11 months ago

          If i drink say  4 to 5 beers a day how long will it stay in your  system
          0 0
          Guest

          Guest 

          answered 8 months ago

          If I drank a 6 pack of corona beers within an hour on saturday night, will I pass a urine test tuesday night?
          0 0
          Guest

          Guest 

          answered 8 months ago

          Be safe and assume alcohol can be detected on an alcohol test for 72 hours :)
          Report
          Jellybean8

          Jellybean8

          commented 1 week ago

          64 ounces of wine-coolers 15 hours before a drug urine test... Will i pass
          0 0

          Sexymad 

          answered 8 months ago

          I had about six bud lights on sunday  stopped drinking about 5 pm. Took a urine test wednesday at 2 pm. Will i pass? The lady giving me the test said they can detect alcohol up to 72 hours, i really doubt that..... By the way im 235 5'10'' an avid drinker, and yes i drove just fine.
          0 0
          Guest

          Guest 

          answered 8 months ago

            If i drink a filth how long will it take so my urine is clean
            0 0
            Guest

            Guest 

            answered 8 months ago

            If i drank a six pack of bud thursday night will it be out of my system by tuesday evening.. ?
            0 0
            Guest

            Guest 

            answered 7 months ago

            It should be
            Report
            Jellybean8

            Jellybean8

            commented 1 week ago

            If blood tested for alcohol how long will it stay in my system
            0 0
            Guest

            Guest 

            answered 7 months ago

            If i stop drinking at 4 am on sunday morning, then take a drug test on monday morning at 5 am will i pass?
            0 0
            Guest

            Guest 

            answered 7 months ago

            I am a heavy drinker if i was to drink 24 beers friday and 24 saturday will i pass a blood alcohol test on the thursday
            0 0
            Guest

            Guest 

            answered 7 months ago

              If i drink FRiday and Saturday and take a urine test for alcohol on Wednesday wil I test positive.
              0 0
              Guest

              Guest 

              answered 7 months ago

              Stop asking these dang questions "If I drink how long will I need to pass a test", there is obviously a reason you are getting court ordered to take an alcohol test, if you are ordered to take a test, and you are still drinking, YOU HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEED TO GET TO REHAB!
              0 0
              Guest

              Guest 

              answered 7 months ago

              Listen here smartie, there is nothing wrong with drinkin a few beers some of us are not court ordered we just have random drug test for our jobs, since u are a saint get off this site and go to church and preach there
              Report
              Booda

              Booda

              commented 6 months ago

              Listen her Booda if you need to take drug tests for your job then you shouldn't be drinking if it affects your job and they test for it. Hmm, saint, no but if you are supposed to stay sober then do so for your job you ass.
              Report
              Trustym2

              Trustym2

              commented 1 month ago

              If you are a regular heavy drinker, it stores in your  body organs.  Will take up to two weeks to
              pass a alcohol blood test. Sorry...
              0 0
              Guest

              Guest 

              answered 7 months ago

              I just took a urine test @ 2:30pm on Tuesday and drank Sunday until 10pm.  Before sunday i'd hadn't drank for 6 days.  I exercise everyday and drink a lot of water each day.  I have a high metabolism and 6"1 190lbs.  Will I pass
              0 0
              Guest

              Guest 

              answered 6 months ago

              It depends on what u drink nd how u much u drink its meant ta b lyk one hour a can so if u drank 48 cans or More it would b in ur system for over two dais
              0 0
              Guest

              Guest 

              answered 6 months ago

                Apparently, the best is not to drink at all. This way, I won't do any test, and won't have any problem at all

                :)
                0 0
                Guest

                Guest 

                answered 5 months ago

                Would you all stop asking if you will pass a test.  Firstly no one is answering and the reality is you cant change it now and whatever the result is you will have to deal with it.  Save the posts for useful Q&A's please.  There is enough at the top to see that there is no sure calculation that works and is dependent on many complex factors.  If you want to know if you are legal to drive then buy a breath tester or dont drink when you need to drive.  The post of someone who was done for drinking 5 glasses of wine over 5 hours does not sound sensible to me - you should not try to calculate how quickly your body processes it and pace yourself accordingly.  Also although you process approx 1 unit per hour, your body will not necessarily manage this while you keep drinking at the same time.
                0 0
                Guest

                Guest 

                answered 5 months ago

                I have cirrhosis and take many meds I also have chronic neuropathy I take 4 100 mg ms-contin er and 30 mg morphine sulphate ir 4 times a day 2 mg clonazepam 3 times a day Iv'e been a heavy drinker for many years the last time I consumed alcohol was midnight friday I have approx 4 days to take a urine test will i pass?
                0 0
                Guest

                Guest 

                answered 5 months ago

                If you're driving, don't drink period.  The Po Po will nab you and if they decide you're impaired at a .04, you'll get a DUI. It's their discretion and their word against your word.  Unless they make a MAJOR mistake, you can't win in court.   Don't do it, it's too much hassle and who wants to put other's at risk anyway, right?
                0 0
                Guest

                Guest 

                answered 5 months ago

                10-12 hours after drinking
                0 0
                Guest

                Guest 

                answered 2 months ago

                  8 hours
                  0 0
                  Guest

                  Guest 

                  answered 2 months ago

                  24 hours max
                  0 0
                  Guest

                  Guest 

                  answered 1 month ago

                  3 hours for every ounce
                  0 0

                  Guest 

                  answered 4 weeks ago

                  5 days
                  0 0

                  Guest 

                  answered 3 weeks ago

                  How long does it take to get out of ur system if your a men and way a 120 pounds
                  0 0

                  Guest 

                  answered 1 week ago

                    It depends on what alcohol you drank but the strongest beer stays in your system depending on how much you drank 1 hour for each can.
                    0 1

                    Zero 

                    answered 3 years ago

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