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| image courtesy cccacademy.com |
DID YOU KNOW....
that Thanksgiving Feast can cause
higher levels of Blood-Alcohol in Drivers?
For starters -- WHAT?!?
Well, when your body absorbs alcohol after you've eaten a big meal... you may not yet recognize how intoxicated you are.
To understand this concept, I will explain how alcohol gets absorbed into the blood stream (and ultimately affects the brain).
Absorption of Alcohol on Empty Stomach
Alcohol will be absorbed into the blood stream (mostly by way of the small intestine) at a much faster and constant rate when you drink on an empty stomach.
Scientists estimate that it takes 30 to 90 minutes to reach a peak BAC level on an empty stomach.
In 1991, the Journal of Forensic Sciences, did a study where 77% of participants reached peak BAC levels in 45 minutes and 97% reached peak within 75 minutes.
(JFSCA, vol. 36, no. 2, March 1991).
This just means that across the board --people get drunker faster on an empty stomach. This is common knowledge for most people.
Absorption of Alcohol on Full Stomach (i.e. Thanksgiving!)
There's a valve in the bottom of the stomach that keeps food in there for digestion. This valve is called the PYLORIC VALVE. While you eat, the valve stays closed so your stomach can do it's job of digesting and breaking down the food. Once the food is broken down (into a semi-liquid substance called CHYME), the Pyloric valve opens so nutrients (and anything else in your stomach) can be absorbed fully into the small intestine.
If you are drinking during or following a large meal, then the alcohol in your stomach is DELAYED in getting absorbed into your blood stream ---thereby its DELAYED making it's way to your brain --so you may feel sober for a longer time.
While food is in your stomach, some alcohol is absorbed into your blood through some absorption in the stomach, but most of the absorption happens in the small intestine.
When the Pyloric valve opens, all the alcohol in your stomach gets absorbed into the blood via the small intestine.
What does this mean?
It means that if you eat while drinking or after eating a full meal, it can take up to 3 hours to reach peak BAC levels. Even in studies that disagree with the 3 hour mark, they agree that across all tested subjects, eating will increase peak BAC times by 21% or more (at a minimum).
Intoxication Test Evidence, Criminal and Civil, Fitzgerald and Hume, s. 2.5, pg 13 (1991)
Some Aspects of Alcohol in Body Fluids Part II, Bayly and McCallum, J. Med. Austl. 172,173 (1959)
The Effect of Food on Alcohol Absorption and Elimination Patterns, Journal Forensic Sciences JFSCA Vol 38 no. 2, March 1993 (pp 285-91)
Handling the DWI Case in New York, Gerstenzang and Sills, Ed. 2013-2014
If you're eating while drinking --it will take longer to reach peak BAC levels.
What is the POINT of all this?
On Thanksgiving, a holiday centered around eating and drinking, there is a much higher chance for DWI because you may "feel fine" but your BAC level could be significantly elevated if you are pulled over and submit to a breath or blood test.
The food in your stomach makes you feel sober for longer --so you may be inclined to drink more than usual and ultimately, get more intoxicated.
So be careful and be smart.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
By Attorney Mike Cyr
Phone: 607-229-5184
Email: mike.ithacadwi@gmail.com
www.ithacadwi.com
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