Alcohol Metabolism

"More than 90 percent of ingested alcohol is metabolized in the liver. The remaining amount stays in the blood and is eventually excreted through the breath, which is how Breathalyzers work, urine, saliva, and sweat. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is measured in milligrams percent, comparing units of alcohol to units of blood. BAC is a measurement used legally to assess intoxication and the impairment and ability to perform certain activities, as in driving a car. As a general rule, the liver can metabolize one standard drink per hour. A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ½ ounces of hard liquor. Drinking more than this, or more quickly, will cause BAC to rise to potentially unsafe levels."