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S`A,L•ES� <br />~Alcblw6 l golly F{helivill Safely <br />.1.4.0 w.s..) <br />Effectively Understanding <br />Intoxication <br />Alcohol affects each person differently. It also affects the same person differently on <br />different occasions. The following are factors affecting intoxication: <br />> Gender. (the strongest determinate). A <br />female becomes legally intoxicated more <br />quickly than a male of the same size. This is <br />because females have a lower percentage of <br />body fluid in relation to their total weight, <br />and more body fat. <br />> Mood. The impact of alcohol can be <br />significantly affected by the individual's state <br />of mind. Alcohol usually accentuates the <br />drinker's mood. For example, if the drinker is <br />depressed, one drink may have the same <br />effect as three. <br />> Food in the stomach. A person who has <br />not eaten becomes intoxicated more quickly <br />than someone who has recently eaten. <br />Greasy or high -protein foods such as fries, <br />cheese or peanuts slow the absorption of <br />alcohol because they are difficult to digest <br />and keep the alcohol in the stomach instead <br />of allowing it to pass to the small intestine. <br />> Amount of alcohol consumed. The more <br />alcohol a person consumes, the more <br />alcohol accumulates in the blood, increasing <br />intoxication. <br />Speed of consumption. A person who <br />drinks rapidly or gulps drinks becomes <br />intoxicated faster than a person who sips or <br />drinks slowly because they ingest a larger <br />amount of alcohol over the same period of <br />time. <br />> Tolerance to alcohol. Tolerance is the <br />body's ability to adapt to toxic substances <br />like alcohol. A person may have a high <br />tolerance because they are an habitual <br />drinker. Others have a naturally high <br />tolerance. A person with a high tolerance <br />may appear sober after consuming a lot of <br />alcohol when they are actually impaired. An <br />inexperienced drinker tends to feel the <br />effects of alcohol more quickly than an <br />experienced drinker, and the experienced <br />drinker can hide the effects better. <br />> Physical condition. (i.e., muscle mass and <br />fat). A person who is out of shape becomes <br />intoxicated more quickly than a person who <br />is muscular because of their higher muscle <br />to fat ratio. <br />> Medication or drugs. (antihistamines, <br />analgesics, mood elevators, tranquilizers, <br />muscle relaxants, anti -depressants, illicit <br />drugs). Drugs, legal or illegal, can impair the <br />ability to drive even when not combined with <br />alcohol. When alcohol and drugs are mixed, <br />they can have a multiple negative effect. <br />That means that the combined effect isn't <br />merely 1 + 1 = 2, but rather 1 + 3 = 3 or 4. <br />Since so many types of drugs interact with <br />alcohol, people on any drug should not be <br />served. <br />> Carbonation. A person whose drink is <br />carbonated becomes intoxicated more <br />quickly than a person whose drink is not. <br />Carbonation is a gas that pushes alcohol <br />through the digestive system and causes <br />alcohol to be absorbed more quickly. <br />Sugars and juices also speed up the <br />absorption rate. <br />— 10 — <br />