1. ALCOHOL &
THE HUMAN BODY

2. WHAT EXACTLY IS ALCOHOL?

3. A beverage made by fermentation or distillation.
Has a lower % of alcohol
Made from (grain products) barley, corn, rye, or fruit
Beer
4 to 6%
Wine
12 to 14%
Distillation
Has a higher % of alcohol
Made from a fermented mixture of Fruit products
Liquor
40 to 80%

4. How does alcohol enter the bloodstream?
About 20% is absorbed through the walls of the stomach.
The rest is absorbed through the walls of the intestine.
After absorption, alcohol moves quickly into the bloodstream.
The remaining alcohol is excreted through urine, perspiration, or breath.

5. The Liver
Most of the alcohol is changed to harmless waste by the liver.
The liver can only process about one drink per hour.
People who have more than one drink builds an excess of alcohol in the body.
The excess alcohol goes to body tissues intensifying the concentration of alcohol in the blood.

6. So what is considered a drink?
½ of an ounce of alcohol
That is equal to:
One can of beer
4 to 5 oz of wine
One mixed drink

7. Alcohol is a TOXIN A toxin is a substance that is poisonous.
If too much is consumed, the stomach will reject it.
The person will VOMIT.
A large amount of alcohol in the body takes a long time to be excreted.

8. Myths about speeding up alcohol removal…
Drinking coffee
Taking a shower
Getting fresh air
Taking aspirin
Drinking water

9. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
The amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.
BAC is given as a percentage.
The higher the BAC, the greater the effects of alcohol on the body.

10. Factors That Affect BAC
Amount of alcohol consumed
Speed it is consumed
Body weight
% of body fat
Gender
Feelings
Amount of food eaten
Other drugs in the blood stream
Age
Drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages

11. BAC .02 People feel relaxed Increased social confidence
Become talkative
Thinking and decision making may be impaired

12. BAC .05 Reasoning and judgment are impaired Feel warm Feel relaxed
May feel confident
Slurred speech
May say or do things they usually would not say or do
Decrease in muscular coordination
Reaction time is slowed

13. BAC
Reasoning, judgment, self-control, muscular coordination, and reaction time are seriously impaired
Can no longer make decisions
May claim not to be affected
Slurred speech
Stagger walk
Legally drunk in all states

14. SOUTH CAROLINA A BAC level of .08 is considered legally drunk!
If you are under the age of 21 and given a DUI, you will not only be taken to jail, but you will lose your privilege to drive as well.

15. BAC .12 Confused Disoriented Loss of coordination and balance Nauseous
Vomiting

16. BAC .20 Unpredictable emotions May have rapid mood changes
May pass out

17. BAC .30 Little or no control over mind and body
Most people cannot stay awake to reach this BAC level
Alcohol poisoning may occur

18. BAC .40
Unconscious
Breathing and heartbeat slow down
Death can occur

20. BAC .50
Coma
Death

22. How Does Alcohol Affect the Body Systems?
That’s your job to find out.
We will now begin the unit project.
Each group will be assigned one of the following systems:
Digestive
Circulatory
Respiratory
Urinary
Endocrine
Reproductive
Central Nervous
Muscular/Skeletal
Immune

23. What are you researching?
The function of the system
Short term effects of alcohol to the system
Long term effects of alcohol to the system
Each group will create a large poster demonstrating the system’s function and the effects of alcohol.
Be ready to present the project to the class.