how fast can the liver process alcohol

The liver can process alcohol at an average rate of about one standard drink (containing roughly 10 grams or 1 ounce of alcohol) per hour. This means that the liver metabolizes alcohol relatively slowly, around 10-12 grams or about 1 ounce of alcohol every 60 minutes. The enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver breaks down alcohol into non-toxic substances, but this process is limited and cannot be sped up significantly. Factors such as body weight, gender, age, food intake, and liver health can influence how fast or slow alcohol is metabolized. For example, women generally have less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, so they process alcohol more slowly than men. Drinking on an empty stomach or drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages can lead to faster absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. About 90-98% of alcohol is metabolized by the liver, while a small percentage is eliminated through sweat, urine, and breath. When alcohol is consumed faster than the liver can process it, the excess remains in the bloodstream, increasing blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and the effects of intoxication. In summary, the liver generally processes alcohol at about 1 ounce or 10-12 grams per hour, but individual rates can vary depending on many personal and situational factors.