We all have that one embarrassing story about how we took too many shots and ended up making a fool of ourselves. Maybe you underestimated your alcohol tolerance or were peer pressured into doing more than you could handle. No matter the case, we’ve all been there.
But how long does it take for alcohol to hit you?
While most people feel the effects of alcohol within about 30 minutes of drinking, your body is still processing it long after you’ve stopped sipping. Alcohol can stay in your system and affect you in different ways for up to 24 hours.
The rate at which alcohol enters your system depends on several factors, including your weight, the type of alcohol you’re drinking, and how fast you’re drinking it.
We will discuss how alcohol works, how long it takes to hit you, and how long the effects last. We’ll also touch on the dangers of drinking too much and what you can do to stay safe.
What Does Alcohol Do To Our Bodies?
You may be surprised to learn that alcohol doesn’t give you a buzz. A loss of inhibitions and judgment causes that feeling.
So what does alcohol do?
When you drink alcohol, it is absorbed into your bloodstream through your stomach and small intestine. Once in your blood, it travels to your brain. Alcohol works by depressing the central nervous system. It slows down your brain function and affects your ability to think clearly and make decisions.
The process of alcohol being absorbed into your bloodstream and then affecting your brain causes you to feel drunk.
How Long Does It Take For Liquor To Kick In?
In general, 30 to 60 minutes after drinking, most people start to feel the effects of alcohol. However, that does not imply that your body has finished metabolizing the alcohol.
For up to 24 hours after consumption, alcohol can remain in your system and have various effects on you.
The effects of alcohol can be different for everyone. They depend on several factors, including your weight and your eating habits. If you have food in your stomach, it will slow down the absorption of alcohol.
The effects of alcohol also depend on how fast you’re drinking. The faster you drink, the more quickly the alcohol will enter your bloodstream and the more intoxicated you will become.
You’re drunk giveaways are pretty well-known: slurred speech, poor balance, and maybe even vomiting. But you may not be aware of other, more subtle effects of alcohol.
The Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol generally has four main effects on your body; slowing down your brain function, affecting your coordination, causing you to feel relaxed, and causing you to feel flushed.
At low levels of intoxication, you may experience mood swings, feelings of relaxation, and mild euphoria. You may also have trouble paying attention, problems with short-term memory, and decreased inhibitions.
As your intoxication level increases, you may feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. You may have trouble walking, blurred vision, and slurred speech. You may also start to feel agitated, confused, or even aggressive.
You may pass out or even experience a blackout at very high levels of intoxication. A blackout is when you can’t remember what happened while drunk. This is because alcohol has begun to affect the part of your brain that controls memory.
If you drink too much alcohol, you may also experience a hangover the next day. Hangovers are caused by dehydration and electrolyte imbalance after a night of drinking. Hangovers can include symptoms like headache, nausea, and fatigue.
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to more serious consequences, including alcohol poisoning and blackout. A blackout is a form of memory loss that can occur after heavy drinking.
Alcohol poisoning occurs when your body is overwhelmed by the amount of alcohol in your system and can no longer process it. Both alcohol poisoning and blackout can be fatal.
How Long Do The Alcohol Effects Last?
The effects of alcohol can last for several hours, depending on how much you’ve drunk. The effects will peak around two hours after drinking for most people and gradually wear off.
If you’re still feeling the effects of alcohol the next day, your body is still processing the alcohol. Alcohol can stay in your system for up to 24 hours, and the effects may last even longer if you’re a heavy drinker.
When the alcohol wears off, you may feel tired and depressed. This is because alcohol affects the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps to regulate mood.
Controlling the Effects of Alcohol
Contrary to popular belief, you cannot build up a tolerance for alcohol. This means that if you drink frequently, you will not be able to drink more without feeling the effects.
If you drink too much liquor at once, your tolerance will decrease. This means that you’ll feel the effects of alcohol more quickly and intensely.
You can do a few things if you’re trying to manage the kick of alcohol.
- Drink slowly: if you drink too quickly, the alcohol will hit you all at once, and you’ll be more likely to feel the effects.
- Eat before you drink: eating will slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.
- Avoid dark liquors: liquors like whiskey and brandy have a higher concentration of alcohol than light liquors like vodka and gin.
- Drink lots of water: water will help to flush the alcohol out of your system.
Takeaway
How long the effects of alcohol last depend on how much you’ve drunk. The effects will peak around two hours after drinking and gradually wear off.
If you’re still feeling the effects of alcohol the next day, your body is still processing the alcohol. Alcohol can stay in your system for up to 24 hours, and the effects may last even longer if you’re a heavy drinker.
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to more serious consequences, including alcohol poisoning and blackout. To be safer, drink slowly, eat before you drink, and avoid dark liquors. Drinking lots of water will also help to flush the alcohol out of your system.
