Brain/Central Nervous System
Alcohol is a depressant that also acts as an anesthetic in the central nervous system. Although a depressant, alcohol has a unique action that initially creates a feeling of mild and pleasant stimulation. Alcohol affects the thinking, judgment and reasoning abilities first. More alcohol intake means that breathing and reflexes will also be impaired. Heavy social drinking may also cause brain atrophy. Over time, the brain and nervous system become less sensitive to alcohol's effects.

Stomach
Some of the alcohol consumed is absorbed quickly from the stomach into the bloodstream. The amount of food in the stomach helps determine the effect alcohol has on a person. Alcohol stimulates the stomach to secrete more stomach acid. Prolonged heavy drinking is related to ulcers and even cancer of the stomach, mouth, tongue and esophagus.

Lungs
Some alcohol is exhaled through the breathing process, which is why alcohol can be smelled on the breath of a person who has been drinking. Extremely high alcohol levels result in unconsciousness, coma and even death through the suppression of the brain's breathing center, the cerebellum.

Liver
Almost all the alcohol consumed is metabolized or oxidized in the liver at the rate of ¼ to ½ ounce of pure alcohol per hour. Since each typical drink of beer, wine, wine cooler or distilled spirit contains about ½ ounce of pure alcohol, it takes about two hours for the body to fully oxidize one typical alcoholic drink. Prolonged heavy drinking can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, which will eventually become non-functional due to scar tissue or cirrhosis, the sixth leading cause of adult deaths in the United States.

Kidneys
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it increases the production of urine from the kidneys. Drinking alcohol on a hot day greatly increases the risk of dehydration.

Small Intestine
Almost all alcohol consumed is absorbed from the small intestines into the bloodstream.

Cardiovascular System/Circulatory System
Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it opens up blood vessels, especially those near the surface of the skin. This gives drinkers a feeling of warmth, even though their body temperature may actually go down. This phenomenon is often observed at football games played in very cold weather. Some fans will drink so much alcohol they will take their jackets off to "cool off." Unfortunately, they often find themselves in bed days later with upper respiratory infections.

Reproductive System
Alcohol decreases production of the male sex hormone testosterone. Women who drink during pregnancy risk giving birth to an infant with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a disorder that causes heart malformation, joint problems, growth deficiencies and mental retardation. Less obvious but more common is Fetal Alcohol Effect, which includes all of the conditions of FAS, but to a lesser degree.

Other Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used and abused drugs by people of all ages and backgrounds. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the intoxicating substance in beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation process, in which certain yeasts convert fruit, sugar and grain into ethyl alcohol. Proof refers to the percentage of pure alcohol in a beverage. For example, a 100-proof bottle of vodka is 50 percent alcohol. The distillation process involved in the production of liquor results in the higher alcohol content.

Alcohol's Effects
Physiologically, alcohol is a depressant that also acts as an anesthetic in the central nervous system. Although a depressant, alcohol has a unique action, which initially creates a feeling of mild and pleasant stimulation. It is absorbed quickly from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream and starts to show effect in five to ten minutes. Alcohol is metabolized or oxidized in the liver at the rate of one-quarter to one-half ounce of pure alcohol per hour. Since each typical drink of beer, wine, wine cooler or distilled spirit contains about half an ounce of pure alcohol, it takes about two hours for the body to fully oxidize one typical alcoholic drink.

Factors Influencing Alcohol's Effects

Tolerance and Dependence
Physical tolerance means that the user's brain and nervous system have become less sensitive to alcohol's effect. For example, some people may find that a six-pack of beer is necessary to achieve the same feeling they once attained from drinking two or three beers.

Physical dependence is characterized by increased tolerance, which requires greater doses of the drug in order to achieve the same effect. When a person is physically dependent on alcohol, withdrawal symptoms appear if the drug is discontinued.

Although people have attempted to sober up by drinking hot coffee, taking a cold shower or exercising, the actual oxidation rate of alcohol remains unaffected. So far, the FDA has not approved any commercial product that can help people sober up more quickly. Passage of time is the only remedy.

Intoxication Levels
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in the blood at any given time. In most states, legal intoxication is defined at .08 percent to .10 percent BAC. At a BAC of .02 percent to .03 percent, people often feel very loose or relaxed. U.S. federal law requires that all states must enforce a .04 percent BAC limit for "driving under the influence," or DUI. Although this is not the same as "Driving While Intoxicated," or DWI, which is legal drunkenness, penalties can still be severe.

At a BAC of .04 percent to .05 percent, judgement, speech and motor coordination are definitely affected. With a BAC of .08 percent to .10 percent, reflexes and judgement are clearly impaired.

Blood Alcohol Concentrations of .2 percent could result in unconsciousness, .3 percent could result in a coma, and a level of .4 percent to .5 percent could cause death through the suppression of the brain's breathing center, the cerebellum. The following table summarizes the symptoms of various levels of BAC.

Dangerous Levels of Intoxication
Not everyone who goes to sleep, passes out or becomes unconscious after drinking has a high BAC. People who are already tired or bored may doze off after very little alcohol. However, people who drink heavily in a short period of time are risking their lives, because a high BAC can result in Acute Alcohol Intoxication (alcohol poisoning). The first real danger signs are the typical signs of shock. By this time, the drinker is unconscious and cannot be aroused. When you recognize the symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication, it is important to get emergency help at once.

Involuntary regurgitation, or vomiting, is another potentially life-threatening situation for a person who has consumed too much alcohol. When a person is drinking more than the liver can oxidize, the pyloric valve at the end of the stomach (which leads to the small intestines) tends to close. Because the alcohol cannot escape from the stomach, the lining becomes irritated, and the person vomits. In a way, this rids the body of much of the alcohol and, no doubt, prevents acute alcohol intoxication in many drinkers.

An unconscious person, however, may be lying in such a position that the airway becomes obstructed. This person could easily asphyxiate on their own vomit. It is important to keep a watchful eye on anyone who passes out from drinking. Rather than carry these people to bed and forget about them, we should continually evaluate their condition until we are certain they are out of danger. A sleepless night is worth it if you save a life.

Long-term Effects of Alcohol Use
Prolonged heavy drinking can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, which will eventually become non-functional scar tissue, or cirrhosis, the sixth leading cause of adult deaths in the United States. Brain shrinkage or atrophy has been noted in at least half of all alcoholics. Heavy social drinking sometimes may also cause brain atrophy.

Women who drink during pregnancy risk giving birth to an infant with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a disorder that causes heart malformation, joint problems, growth deficiencies and mental retardation. Less obvious, but more common, is the Fetal Alcohol Effect, which includes all the conditions of FAS, but to a lesser degree.

Prolonged heavy drinking is related to cancers of the stomach, mouth, tongue and esophagus. Indirectly, alcohol is involved in about two-thirds of homicides and almost one-third of all suicides. Finally, about 50 percent of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related, as well as many fires, falls and other mishaps.

Potential Extra Costs To Driver First Offense DWI Conviction