Me and a friend were wondering about this one.

What makes a lightweight, specifically... what changes occur in all the different parts of the body to define a difference between two people of the same weight that can consume a radically vast difference in amounts of alcohol?

We wondered if a brand new liver would reduce tolerance to booze... but generally, we just admitted our ignorance to science.

So I put it to you folk, do any of you know exactly where in the human body alcohol tolerance is found?

[edit: one more question - is it the same part(s) of the body which define the tolerance toward other drugs?]

I'd assume it's in the brain; though I could be wrong. I really have no idea what mechanisms cause intoxication.

It's all genetics.

Different people produce different amounts of alcohol dehydrogenase at different times. Some people, mainly from alcohol-producing countries, constantly have elevated levels of alcohol dehydrogenase in both their digestive fluids as well as their blood. They literally begin to break down alcohol as soon as they start to drink it.

Of course, because the byproduct of alcohol and alcohol dehydrogenase is an aldehyde, many of these people are also far more prone to alcohol's more negative side effects (such as hangovers).

Edit: An extreme example of this can be found in many Japanese people, who often have reactions so severe can be almost described as an allergy to alcohol.

Simple explanation: Alcohol is what causes the intoxication effect; people whose bodies produce more alcohol dehydrogenase are less affected by it because much more of it is broken down before it can enter the brain.

Enzymes in the liver. The enzymes are more active in people with lower tolerances, and (I assume) the enzymes become less active as alcohol consumption becomes more frequent. Most people of Asian descent have a genetic mutation that causes these enzymes to process alcohol more quickly than most people, which is why they generally can't hold their alcohol very well. Then of course other factors such as what/how much food a person's ate and their level of hydration also come into play too.

Alcohol affects the brain. Therefore, it makes sense that the 'tolerance' is really just the brain learning to function despite it's oxygen deprived state. Incidentally, heavy drinkers can hold their breath longer.

I am understanding what you're saying (to the same degree a laymen can).

One thing I cannot see it explaining is the way I can now drink much much more than I could when I was 14 or 15... that kinda stuff fascinates me... how come we can take more gyp from the booze than what we could have taken earlier?

You have it backwards.

Nope, alcohol consumption doesn't significantly impact blood oxygen levels.

Your liver probably wasn't finished growing when you were 14 or 15, but your body also adjusts to be able to metabolize alcohol quicker. The same thing happens with virtually every toxin. As long as it doesn't cause tissue necrosis, anyway.

Edit: Except for methanol. Our body's system to metabolize ethanol actually converts methanol into formaldehyde.

That's literally the stupidest thing I've read in months.

lets change the variables then.

will a booze noob at full development be able to handle more alcohol 3 years after drinking ****loads?

I'm still not sure what causes folk to be able to drink more as they go on... last year whiskey burned my throat and took a lot less to get me drunk (i'm 21).

Is this along the same lines as the stuff spouted about Class A drugs when I was 13? (your body will build up a resistance).

That resistance is why I ask what I'm asking.... if I don't drink for a while then it'll hit me more than if i've been drinking relentlessly for months.

Hahahaha

Anyway, I have a high tolerance for someone my size. But different types of alcohol seem to really screw with me faster. Any explenation, Jon`C?

Your body learns to metabolize liquor faster, basically.

Think of it like a freight train.

Before I had my surgery I had some blood tests done, and my doctors were all "OMG ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC?" because my ADH levels are high. I really don't drink very much, I just come from "that part" of the world. You know what one I'm talking about.

The more alcohol you drink the more alcohol dehydrogenase your body produces. And then your body keeps producing it because it's trying to maintain homeostasis and it really has no way of knowing if or when you'll be drinking more alcohol.

If you stop drinking alcohol for long enough, the liver relaxes and quits producing so much ADH because producing it would be a waste of energy. People from heavy alcohol-producing regions (such as northern europe or japan) mutated and constantly produce fairly large amounts of ADH. With the right (or wrong) genes it's actually a normal part of your digestive fluids.

"Different types?"
Um. I would imagine that different types of alcohol would "screw with you faster" because 'different types' make you blind. I'd guess you just don't notice how much you're drinking, or you're holding it your mouth for longer.

Adult midgets have the same size liver as an ordinary adult so there's no reason you should have a weaker tolerance for alcohol.

It seems to matter what it's mixed with.

Then I'd suggest that you're drinking it faster, or you don't realize how much you're drinking, or you're holding in your mouth for longer.

i'll emphasize!

Tequila makes me evil.
Beer makes me rowdy.
Whiskey makes me hateful.
Vodka makes me jovial.
Brandy makes me pretentious.
Gin makes me vomit.

Different boozes cause different drunk reactions.

Jesus christ I will not return to my local pub after the horrific jokes I made after drinking tequila.

I may well be out of my depth here, but I read that if you mix with sugary things it "gets into your system faster". So a vodka and coke will screw you faster than a straight one. I'll pass on the why though

Who drinks vodka and coke?

I would think it also has to do somewhat with becoming more accustomed to the subjective effects of being drunk. When you're not used to being drunk, being slightly away from baseline is unusual, but you get used to the feeling, and can tolerate it to higher degrees.

Err... hundreds of thousands of people every weekend in the Uk at least. Maybe it's just something that happens over here but it's an incredibly popular drink.

Actually, it's the carbonation in that case, sugar-free diet sodas "screw you faster" than anything.

I love vodka, and I love coke, but Christ do they taste horrible together.

thats why vodka + lemonade is better.

the tastes compliment each other.

Now that I don't disagree with

I drink vodka with ice and a squeeze of fresh lime.

I don't like any vodka by default, but mixed with stuff (like lemonade) it's great.

I drink it seperate

ie: shot shot coke + ciggie

shot shot coke + ciggie

repeat until 10-14 shots have been consumed.

Then regret it.


Tolerance to alcohol is linked to MANLINESS!!


(which makes my ex the toughest bloke in the world)

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

a lot of the time those different liquors will have different abv (alcohol by volume) percentages, anywhere between 35% to 50%, that may impact how it affects you?

also how drunk you are relates directly to blood alcohol level, and that does depend, in part, on your size. a bigger person will have a lower blood alcohol level after 3 drinks than a smaller person.

The (relatively) bitter taste of Coke complements the bitterness of vodka perfectly.

Yeah, true. Except...Coke isn't bitter?

Vodka and light drinks go together well.

Hot.

Yeah, I went to Quebec for New Year's 2003-2004 and the whole time I had vodka and water, which was always served with either lemon or lime (or both). Really good.

Really, vodka mixes well with any kind of juice, especially citrus.

Sigh, if only I didn't find Vodka repulsive.

You will learn with time my child, you will learn with time

Indeed. Unless you're drinking the cheap stuff.

What's is considered "cheap" ?

SPASDA own brand.

People seem to get drunk more easily from drinking stuff they don't like the taste of, than the stuff they do like. I have no idea why this is, scientifically, but from what I know, it's true.

Nah, not at all, every time I drink gin, it comes straight back up because the taste disfigures me.

Anything that you can get a half gallon of for 20 bucks or under.

anything that is not made from the dreaded skypher potatoes, grown by evil scientists in dark laboratories deep inside the Russian underbelly. distilled in the horrid pot-stills of Kingu, fueled by the very fires of hell... THAT is what is cheap vodka!!!