The Effects Of Alcohol on the
Brain and the Body
Alcohol Pre-Test
• Beer is weaker than rum or vodka.
• Alcohol is digested the same way food is digested in
the body.
• The body can eliminate up to 5 ounces of alcohol per
hour.
• BAC refers to the amount of calories in a beverage.
• Alcohol is high in calories and has no nutritional
value.
• Alcohol is a stimulant, it tends to pep you up.
• Coffee and a cold shower can help to sober you up.
Alcohol Pre-Test Answers
• A can of beer has the same amount of
alcohol as a glass of wine and a shot of
hard alcohol
• Alcohol is digested in the liver
• The body eliminates .5 ounces of alcohol
an hour
• BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in the
blood
• Only time can help sober you up
Alcohol % vs Proof
The term proof refers to the amount of
alcohol in a drink. If a drink label says 40
proof that means it has 20% alcohol in it.
100% alcohol = ___ proof
___% alcohol = 24 proof
6% alcohol = ___ proof
Male
Female
Path of alcohol through the body
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mouth- alcohol enters here and goes down the
esophagus.
Stomach- no alcohol is digested here, passes right
through.
Small Intestines- enters here and is absorbed into
the bloodstream.
Brain- blood carries alcohol to the brain. The brain
is bathed in alcohol.
Liver- burns up the alcohol at a rate of ½ ounce per
hour. The alcohol changes into water and carbon
dioxide and is released through sweat and urine,
and breathing.
Alcohol and the Brain
Brain terms
Medulla- the vital life center of the brain,
controls breathing, swallowing, and heart
beat.
Cerebellum- controls coordination, muscular
control, and balance.
Cerebrum- controls voluntary actions, sight,
fine motor skills, thinking, and behavior.
Alcohol’s Effect on the Brain
1 to 2 drinks: systems begin to slow down
relaxed feeling
person is less inhibited
there is a slight decrease in
fine motor skills.
3 to 4 drinks: fine motor skills are
significantly decreased
responsiveness is reduced
judgment is reduced
person may feel more alert
and talkative, but in reality all
systems have slowed
5 to 7 drinks- speech is slurred
hearing is dulled
vision is cloudy
balance and equilibrium is
altered
sense of pain is decreased
8 to 12 drinks: reflex action is decreased
body temperature drops
blood circulation slows
unconsciousness may occur
further drinking may cause a
coma and eventual death
Long term effects of alcohol
Digestive Disorders
Long Term Alcohol Abuse is linked to
cancers of the throat, mouth, and
esophagus; liver diseases such as
cirrhosis, ulcers in the stomach, and an
inflammation of the pancreas
Nervous System Disorders
Long term alcohol abuse can lead to brain
damage, dementia, hallucinations, loss of
memory, inability to gather new
information, and nerve damage.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Long term alcohol abuse can lead to
damaged muscle tissue in the heart,
irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure,
elevated cholesterol levels, and a weaker
heartbeat.
Reproductive Disorders
Using alcohol during pregnancy leads to
fetal alcohol syndrome and low birth
weight.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by
facial malformations, growth deficiency,
and possible retardation.
THE END