Things to Know About Alcohol
A common drug found in certain beverages is called alcohol. It is created by fermentation, a process in which yeast, sugar, and water are combined. Alcoholic drinks include beer, wine, and liquor.
Proof of Different Alcoholic Beverages
Each alcoholic beverage has a proof, which is a measure of the amount of alcohol in a container of liquor. The proof of a drink is double the percent of alcohol in the bottle. For example, 80-proof vodka is 40 percent alcohol.
Type of Drink
Characteristic(s)
Proof
beer
made by fermentation of grains (barley, corn, or rye)
8
light beer (also called lite beer)
has fewer calories than regular beer but the same amount of alcohol
8
wine
made by fermentation of grapes or other fruits
24 to 28
malt liquor
has higher alcohol content than regular beer
16
liquor
made by a process that raises the alcohol content, often through distillation; whiskey, bourbon, rye, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, and brandy are types of liquor
80 to 151
flavored liquor
orange-flavored vodka and berry-flavored gin are types of flavored liquor
70
liqueur
a liquor that is strong, sweet, and highly flavored; Irish cream, amaretto, and schnapps are types of liqueur
17 to 30
other flavored alcohol drinks
hard lemonade, flavored malt coolers, and ice drinks are types of other flavored alcohol drinks
6 to 12
Factors That Influence BAC
- Number of drinks: The more a person drinks, the higher the BAC.
- How fast a person drinks: Drinking quickly raises BAC. A BAC of 0.37 percent to 0.40 percent or higher can cause death.
- Type of alcohol: Higher alcohol concentration in the drink speeds up the process of alcohol absorption in the body.
- Type of mixer: Water and fruit juices mixed with alcohol slow the process, while carbonated beverages mixed with alcohol speed up the absorption process.
- Size and gender: BAC rises faster in females, in smaller people, or in people who are underweight.
- Food in the stomach: BAC increases more slowly in a person with a full stomach because alcohol is absorbed (soaked up) less quickly when there is food in the stomach.
- Other drugs in the body: Other drugs can increase the effects of alcohol.
- Mood: Feeling depressed can increase the effects of alcohol.