How long does it take for alcohol to disappear from the body: time in the table

Strong drinks impair perception, slow reaction speed, and dull the abilities necessary to drive a car. Removing alcohol from the body takes from half an hour to several days; the speed of the process is influenced by many factors. You can check whether alcohol has evaporated from the exhaled air using a household breathalyzer. You just need to take into account that its breakdown products can remain in the blood longer, which will be revealed by a medical examination. Every driver should know how much alcohol is lost on average in his particular case. This is important not only for preventing problems with the traffic police, but also for preventing accidents.

How alcohol is eliminated from the body

Drinking alcohol is not completely prohibited for drivers. You just can’t abuse drinks, and you should always remember the safety rules. Vehicles are already a source of increased risk; in the hands of a drunk, they turn into almost lethal weapons. To prevent negative consequences, after drinking alcohol, it is best to take a break of 1-2 days before driving. This will allow the driver not to doubt the performance of the body systems and not be afraid of meeting with traffic police officers.

The absorption of alcoholic beverages begins in the very first seconds of their entry into the body - already in the oral cavity. After a few more minutes, their destruction as a result of metabolism and removal from tissues begins.

The main load falls on the liver, which acts as a filter. Under the influence of special enzymes, ethyl alcohol breaks down into components, which again disperse throughout the body. By interacting with cells and tissues, alcohol is utilized and eliminated. This mainly occurs due to the work of the kidneys and intestines.

Alcohol vapor finds additional exit routes: through the pores of the skin, through the lungs (with breathing). Despite the fact that alcohol is excreted, weathered and evaporated from the body thanks to the work of several systems at once, this is usually a long process. Drivers should remember that there are no household methods for stimulating the breakdown of ethyl alcohol in the liver. The only thing that can be done is to speed up the excretion of metabolites by the kidneys, skin, and lungs.

Time to remove alcohol from the body

To find out the time for complete elimination of alcohol from the body for a particular person, you can apply a formula based on a simple dependence. In men, the breakdown period of alcohol components in the blood averages 0.1-0.15 ppm per 1 hour. For women, this figure is 0.1 ppm. In case of alcohol intoxication, it is enough to use a household breathalyzer to establish the initial indicator. Then it remains to calculate how long it will take for it to drop to the acceptable level. It is important to understand that the timing will be approximate. The presence of health problems will slow down the process, and the use of auxiliary techniques will speed it up.

How long does it take to detect alcohol in exhaled air?

The approximate time during which alcohol is detected in exhaled air is given in the table:

The data is averaged and may vary depending on the specifics of the situation. The time it takes for alcohol to clear from the lungs is influenced by the person’s health status, level of activity, and measures taken to speed up cleansing of the body.

Types of alcoholic beverages and their withdrawal times

For example, one is interested in what type of alcoholic beverages and how long they last in the human body. As mentioned above, the rate of breakdown of alcohol depends on the amount of drink consumed. To correctly calculate the number of hours during which alcohol is completely eliminated from the human body, you will need to use basic knowledge of arithmetic.

With a weight of 75 kg, you need to multiply the amount of drink consumed by the established indicator (0.77); with a weight of 60 kg, we perform the procedure of multiplying the amount by 0.53. However, the table provides information on some types of strong drinks and the time for which they are withdrawn for people weighing 80 kg.

It should be noted that the data in the table is approximate. The time during which alcohol stays in the body depends on many factors mentioned above.

What determines the rate of excretion?

The rate of breakdown of alcohol in the blood and other biomaterials of the body determines how quickly the body will cleanse itself of ethyl alcohol and its metabolites. This, in turn, affects when a person becomes sober and can get behind the wheel.

The speed at which alcohol is eliminated from the body depends on the following points:

• quality of liver function - not only the health of the organ is important, but also its ability to produce the necessary enzymes;
• features of drinking alcohol - a person gets drunk faster, more strongly and for a longer period of time if he drinks a lot, quickly and without a good snack. On the contrary, he sobers up more slowly in such a situation;
• emotional mood - on the one hand, an excited person gets drunk faster than a calm one. On the other hand, as a result of a sudden release of adrenaline, for example, in a critical situation, some people, on the contrary, suddenly sober up;
• physique, state of health - slender and physically weakened people get drunk faster and recover more slowly after drinking alcohol;
• gender – women sober up more slowly than men;
• age - the body of older and minor people is more susceptible to alcohol and does not get rid of it as actively;
• frequency of libations - if alcohol is consumed systematically, its breakdown products are in the tissues almost constantly. As a result, a person only needs a minimal dose to become very intoxicated, and it takes him several days to sober up completely;
• concurrent use of medications – in combination with medications, drinking alcohol becomes dangerous. It is important to remember that even the most harmless drugs that do not interact with alcohol create additional stress on the liver, slowing down the cleansing of the body.

It is better to take these points into account not when calculating the time it will take to remove alcohol, but even before the party starts. If you prepare for it in advance and calculate the dose, you can allow yourself to drink any drink, knowing exactly when it will be safe to get behind the wheel.

In men

The body of a representative of the stronger sex needs less time to weather alcohol. This is due to the fact that he is traditionally heavier and more massive than a woman; his body is less susceptible to the action of toxins that are formed during the breakdown of ethyl alcohol. Also, the shorter decay time of any alcohol in the blood in men is explained by the more active production of enzymes by the tissues of the digestive tract.

Among women

In the fair sex, alcohol is broken down and leaves the body approximately 20% slower than in men. Due to the less active processing of ethyl alcohol by enzymes, more toxins are distributed through the tissues of the female body with the same volumes of drinks. For this reason, for women, alcohol stays in the body for a long time and gives a faster and more pronounced effect.

Alcohol calculator

The weathering of alcohol is calculated using a special formula, which includes the strength of the drink, the volume of alcohol consumed and the person’s body weight. Gender is taken into account using the Widmark coefficient; for men it is 0.70, for women it is 0.60.

To calculate how many ppm are in the blood, you need to divide the mass of alcohol consumed, taking into account its strength, by the person’s weight and the coefficient corresponding to his gender. For example, if a man weighing 75 kg drinks a liter of wine, then his degree of intoxication is approximately 2.27 ppm.

This value is obtained by simple calculations. The mass of alcohol is calculated as volume multiplied by density, which on average for alcoholic beverages is 0.79384. Since the strength of the wine is approximately 15 revolutions, the final value is calculated as 1000 ml * 0.79784 g/ml * 0.15% = 119.076 g.

Now the resulting value must be divided by the person’s body weight and the gender coefficient. It turns out 119.076 g / 75 kg / 0.70 = 2.27 ppm.

The concentration of alcohol decreases by approximately 0.1-0.16 g/l per hour. It turns out that the number of hours until complete elimination will be from 14 hours 11 minutes to 22 hours 42 minutes. Such extreme values ​​are obtained by dividing the maximum concentration of alcohol in the blood immediately after drinking alcohol (2.27 ppm) by the rate of its elimination (from 0.1 to 0.16 g/l). If you plan to drive, it is better to focus on the minimum launch speed. That is, in the case considered, it is better for the man not to drive the car until almost 23 hours have passed.

Time table for removing alcohol from the human body

Table of approximate time for alcohol removal from the body for drivers (data are given for men):

How much can a driver drink?

Driving while intoxicated is unacceptable. If the driver arouses the suspicion of a traffic police officer, the concentration of ethyl alcohol per liter of exhaled air is measured. Since this indicator is affected not only by alcohol, but also by some food products, the critical value is 0.36 ppm of alcohol.

This means that on average, ethanol from 100 ml of vodka or 2 bottles of beer will be eliminated from a man’s body in about 4 hours, 200 ml of red wine - after 3 hours, and white wine - after 2. But these data are approximate, and it is impossible to know exactly. Is it possible for each person to drive after a specified amount of time? It is better to calculate your dose using an alcohol calculator or table, since they at least take into account body weight. And it’s even better to be able to get a good night’s sleep after the feast and not overindulge during it.

Permissible blood alcohol limit for a driver

The degree of driver intoxication is measured in ppm. To obtain the result, a potential traffic violator can have their exhaled air, blood, and urine checked. In the latter case, no traces of ethyl alcohol should be present in the analysis. According to amendments to the legislation made on July 23, 2003, the permissible alcohol content of a driver in the blood is 0.35 ppm, and in the exhaled air - 0.16. In the latter case, the permissible error of the breathalyzer should also be taken into account - 0.05 ppm.

How does gender affect the weathering of alcohol?

In order to understand exactly how gender affects the absorption of alcohol, you should start with the differences in male and female physiology.

Thus, the amount of fluid in a woman’s body is 10-20% less than that of a man. This fact is determined by the difference in blood circulating through the veins, vessels and arteries - in women its volume is 3.6 liters, and in men - 4.5 liters. This difference in volumes leads to the fact that when drinking the same amount of alcohol at the same time, its concentration in the female body will be significantly higher than in the male body, and therefore the content in the exhaled air and the weathering time will be longer.

In addition, the liver, which is responsible for processing alcohol, copes with the task assigned to it differently in representatives of the stronger and weaker sex. Thus, the rate of alcohol processing in women is 0.08-0.09 ppm per hour, and in men the processing rate is 0.1-0.15 ppm. And, naturally, this also affects the weathering time and, accordingly, how long the intoxication lasts.

How to speed up the process of leaving the body

There are many ways to speed up the processes by which alcohol and metabolites are eliminated from the body. To get a quick and most effective result, it is better to turn to professionals who will quickly and completely cleanse your body of alcohol. The specialist will put on an IV with glucose, insulin, B vitamins and ascorbic acid, and prescribe diuretics. It is not recommended to resort to this method on your own. We must limit ourselves to a number of slightly less effective, but still effective, accessible and safe techniques.

Medication methods

If possible, after the party you should take a specialized pharmaceutical product - Alka-Seltzer, Zorex, Alka-Prim. Taking such sorbents as “Polysorb” and “Liquid Coal” gives a good effect. Before using the products, be sure to read the instructions and follow their recommendations. As a last resort, you can get by with regular activated carbon - 1 tablet for every 10 kg of weight. The time it takes to remove alcohol components from the body will be noticeably reduced if you first rinse the stomach to clean water and give a cleansing enema.

An additional positive effect will be obtained by taking natural nootropics, for example, the drug “Glycine”. A product based on an amino acid natural to the body will speed up the cleansing of body tissues and reduce the negative impact of toxins on the brain. Vitamins of group B and ascorbic acid will not be superfluous.

Drinking regime

Active kidney function will help quickly get rid of alcohol in the body.
To stimulate the functioning of the excretory organs, it is not recommended to use diuretics without consulting a doctor. It is better to make do with time-tested and practice-tested liquids, which will also significantly ease the symptoms of a hangover.

Alcohol is eliminated from the blood faster if you drink the following drinks in large quantities:

• warm black or green tea with added sugar or honey;
• herbal cocktail based on mint, lemon balm, hawthorn and motherwort;
• diluted freshly squeezed citrus juice - you can drink it only after meals, taking 2 parts water to 1 part juice;
• green tea without sugar with lemon;
• tomato juice - it should be drunk without salt, otherwise excess fluid may accumulate in the body. It is better to replace salt with cucumber or cabbage brine;
• fermented milk drinks with a low fat content;
• still mineral water – drinks with bubbles can worsen hangover symptoms.

Additionally, you can drink an egg cocktail. Just beat a couple of raw chicken eggs with a fork and add 2-3 tablespoons of tangerine, orange or lemon juice to the mixture.

Food for a hangover

The rate of alcohol elimination will slow down if you eat a large meal a few hours after drinking alcohol. Fatty and filling dishes are good as a snack, but during a hangover they will only add to your problems. Alcohol quickly disappears if the next day after the party you drink a lot of healthy fluids and eat only light food. The best option is a clear broth made with skinless chicken meat, better prepared in second water. It is not recommended to add onions to it, otherwise inflammation of the already irritated gastric mucosa may occur. As you get rid of hangover symptoms, you can add bread, vegetable salads, and cereals with fruit to the menu.

How long does it take for vodka to leave the body?

Doctors are ready to allow you to drive a car in 24 hours, that is, in exactly 24 hours. But everyone has had situations when they need to get behind the wheel earlier. It is at this moment that a table comes to the rescue, which calculates how long it takes for a certain type of alcoholic drink to come out (beer, wine, champagne, liver, vodka or cognac).

1. Cold and hot shower. The blood is cleared of alcohol faster under the influence of a sharp stream of water. Toxic vapors leave due to the work of the lungs, and the epidermal tissue is also involved in the work. Many people feel much better after this procedure.
2. Drinking large amounts of liquid. Sweet tea, juice, and mineral water will help relieve intoxication. Sometimes drinking liquid causes vomiting - the digestive tract fights the effects of intoxication. The traditional way is to drink cabbage or cucumber brine; the acids break down the intoxicating substances. If a person is prone to edema, then this method should be abandoned.
3. Before the feast, you can drink a few tablets of activated carbon or other absorbent. Absorbents absorb all toxic substances, neutralize them and allow them to be removed naturally. Known absorbents: Polysorb, Sorbex, White coal. If you are very intoxicated, you can take a tablet of glycine or lemontar.
4. On an empty stomach, you can consume any fermented milk product, for example, kefir. Amino acids and bacteria help the liver do its job faster.
5. Not many people know that a bathhouse or steam room helps get rid of alcohol. Sweat removes toxins through the skin, heat accelerates metabolic processes. But this method is contraindicated for people with cardiovascular diseases - the load on the heart increases several times.
6. Diuretics. In rare cases, you can take furosemide, but you need to keep in mind that this method has many contraindications. Medicines quickly remove toxins, but have an adverse effect on the heart. After this method, it is easy to get to the doctor with complications. For mild intoxication, it is best to use tea or other liquid.
7. Physical activity. In the fresh air, with good activity, alcohol is eliminated much faster than in a sitting position at a table. It is useful to run and do squats. This will speed up the blood, and will also speed up metabolic processes.

How to reduce the effects of alcohol

There are several rules by following which you can reduce the effect of ethyl alcohol entering the blood. First of all, you need to know your limits; if you feel slightly dizzy, it is better to take a short walk in the fresh air or ventilate the room, this will saturate your brain with oxygen. For mild intoxication, strong tea or coffee will help; you can drink activated charcoal at night. Milk, ice cream and fermented milk products will quickly neutralize alcohol intoxication: 200 ml of milk will significantly improve your condition.

If you drive a vehicle, be it a bicycle, motorcycle or car, then drinking alcohol should be taken very seriously. Once ethanol enters the bloodstream, it spreads to all organs, including the brain. Even when consuming a small amount, the work of neurons (nerve cells) is dulled, which, in turn, leads to inhibition. In this case, it is better to wait and wait until you are completely sober.

Degrees of intoxication

Researchers have long identified different stages of intoxication. Their difference is in the sensations, behavior and appearance of a person who drinks alcohol:

1. Mild intoxication (no more than 0.5-1.4 ‰ is detected in the blood). Characterized by increased mood, loose speech, and decreased concentration. Memory, as a rule, is retained in full.
2. Average degree of intoxication (from 1.5 to 2.4 ‰). At this stage, irritability, anger and aggression are usually observed. Euphoria quickly gives way to apathy, coordination of movement is impaired, lethargy and drowsiness are present.
3. Severe degree (2.5 or more ppm). Orientation in time and space is disturbed, speech slows down and becomes incoherent, severe headache, nausea and even vomiting may occur. In especially severe cases, coma and complete relaxation of all muscles may occur.