Alcohol is metabolized in the body mainly by the liver. The brain, pancreas, and stomach also metabolize alcohol.
More than 90% of alcohol is eliminated by the liver; 2-5% is excreted unchanged in urine, sweat, or breath.
Your liver is responsible for removing "poisons". The remainder of the alcohol is 'removed' by excretion of alcohol in breath, your urine, sweat, feces, breast milk (which is why you should never breast feed a baby if you have been drinking) and your saliva.
The only method to effectively reduce your BAC is to not drink over a period of time. Coffee, exercise and cold showers cannot reduce your BAC and the effects of alcohol. They can help you remain awake, but it can not change your BAC or make you sober.
Alcohol's Path Through the Body
About five percent of the alcohol consumed leaves the body through urine, sweat glands, and breathing. Most of the alcohol must be broken down (metabolized) by the liver to remove it from the system. The liver metabolizes alcohol at a very constant rate, approximately one drink per hour.
After alcohol is swallowed, it is absorbed primarily from the small intestine into the veins that collect blood from the stomach and bowels and from the portal vein, which leads to the liver. From there it is carried to the liver, where it is exposed to enzymes and metabolized.
This solvent will displace the ethanol in the tissue, then this, in turn, will be displaced by molten paraffin wax. This stage in the process is called “clearing” and the reagent used is called a “clearing agent”.
Once alcohol has entered your bloodstream it remains in your body until it is processed. About 90-98 per cent of alcohol that you drink is broken down in your liver. The other 2-10 per cent of alcohol is removed in your urine, breathed out through your lungs or excreted in your sweat.
Vacuum distillation sees alcohol and other volatiles removed at a relatively low temperature (25°C-30°C), with aromatics blended back in afterwards. Spinning cone columns are not dissimilar, but involve repeated low-temperature evaporation and condensation using inverted cones and centrifugal forces.
Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die. The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate. This can result in serious and permanent damage to your liver.
Although many organs show ethanol-metabolizing properties, more than 90% of ethanol is metabolized into acetaldehyde in the liver, primarily, in the area near the central vein.
How alcohol travels through your body. Your bloodstream distributes alcohol quickly to your brain, kidney, lungs and liver. On average, your liver takes an hour to break down one unit of alcohol.
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum also contains enzymes responsible for degrading inorganic toxins, such as alcohol and drugs.
Cetearyl alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol that companies use to make various cosmetic products. These include a wide array of toiletries, including hand creams, shampoos, and body washes. This alcohol is an emollient, which means it softens the skin and hair.
Most alcohol absorption into the body happens in the small intestine. The presence of fatty food can significantly slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
Alcohol can show up in a blood test for up to 12 hours. Urine: Alcohol can be detected in urine for up 3 to 5 days via the ethyl glucuronide (EtG) test or 10 to 12 hours via the traditional method. Hair: Similar to other drugs, alcohol can be detected in a hair follicle drug test for up to 90 days.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Drink Out of Your System? Alcohol is predominantly broken down in the liver through the actions of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. On average, alcohol is metabolized at a rate of 15-25 milligrams per hour, but it varies by person, occasion, and the amount of alcohol consumed.
Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, refers to the percentage of alcohol in a person's bloodstream, and can be measured within 30-70 minutes after drinking. Contrary to popular belief, nothing can lower BAC except time; coffee, cold showers, and chugging glasses of water will not help you sober up any faster.
Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including: Steatosis, or fatty liver. Alcoholic hepatitis. Fibrosis.
Organs known to be damaged by long-term alcohol misuse include the brain and nervous system, heart, liver and pancreas. Heavy drinking can also increase your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, both of which are major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Cover up your alcohol breath by drinking a cup of coffee or lemon water. Or, eat onion, garlic, or peanut butter. Freshen up your breath by brushing your teeth, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. Also, take a shower to scrub off the alcohol smell on your skin.
Alcohol, at no stage of being broken down, turns into sugar!
Wine and beer do contain small amounts of sugar from the fermentation process of the raw ingredients used to make it. I.e, wine is made with grapes that contain fruit sugars.