{"id":12944,"date":"2024-08-16T09:43:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T09:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/?p=12944"},"modified":"2026-02-11T16:36:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:36:06","slug":"how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Alcohol affects many different organs within the body and can be harmful to the body on many levels if consumed heavily on an ongoing basis. But when it comes time to detox the body of alcohol, it\u2019s not always a simple endeavor. Many negative side effects, including hazardous ones like delirium tremens, can happen as a result of unhealthy detoxification from alcohol.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s to completely detox from alcohol or to know when the effects of one night will wear off, it\u2019s important to know how long alcohol can and will stay in your system. Like other <a href=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/what-is-the-most-addictive-drug\/\">addictive substances<\/a>, alcohol is stored in the body and requires time to fully purge. This is why it\u2019s most commonly recommended that anyone looking to detox from alcohol should pursue medical assistance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system\/#how-long-will-alcohol-stay-in-your-body\" >How Long Will Alcohol Stay in Your Body?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system\/#how-does-alcohol-affect-the-body\" >How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system\/#what-is-alcoholism\" >What is alcoholism?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system\/#signs-of-alcoholism\" >Signs of Alcoholism<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system\/#recover-from-alcoholism-with-principles-recovery-center\" >Recover From Alcoholism with Principles Recovery Center<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-long-will-alcohol-stay-in-your-body\"><\/span>How Long Will Alcohol Stay in Your Body?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A typical, healthy human liver will digest one drink per hour. A drink is defined as:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>One 1.5 ounces \u201cshot\u201d of hard liquor or distilled spirits (40% alcohol content)<\/li>\n<li>12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)<\/li>\n<li>5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content)<\/li>\n<li>8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>However, these numbers often don\u2019t reflect the reality of a lot of alcoholic beverages. The ratios may be off based on the beverage, and every additional drink adds another hour to the time when the liver is finished processing the alcohol.[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion spacing=&#8221;3&#8243; gap=&#8221;3&#8243; c_align=&#8221;left&#8221; c_icon=&#8221;chevron&#8221; c_position=&#8221;left&#8221; active_section=&#8221;0&#8243; collapsible_all=&#8221;true&#8221; el_class=&#8221;tdiAccordion&#8221;][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;How Long Does Alcohol Show up on Tests?&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1715020831858-f13cfde7-510e&#8221;][vc_column_text]In regards to testing for alcohol in the body, the standards are a bit different. Alcohol stays in different parts of the body (sometimes in trace amounts) much longer than one hour.<\/p>\n<p>Alcohol stays in different parts of the body at the following rates:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Blood:<\/strong> One hour per drink, as processed by the liver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Urine:<\/strong> Around 80 hours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Breast Milk:<\/strong> About two to three hours per drink.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hair:<\/strong> About three months.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>These disparate amounts of breakdown all have to do with how alcohol works through the body. When asking how long alcohol stays in your system, the answer depends on how much alcohol and how frequently the drinking took place.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;How Alcohol Breaks Down&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1714767749708-1b5d8e98-8e54&#8243;][vc_column_text]When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine. From there, it is transported to the liver, where the majority of alcohol metabolism and breakdown occurs.<\/p>\n<p>In the liver, enzymes break down alcohol into acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct. Acetaldehyde is further metabolized and then broken down into carbon dioxide and water. This is finally eliminated from the body through urine, breath, and sweat. The rate at which alcohol is metabolized is influenced by factors such as age, gender, body weight, liver function, and the presence of other substances in the body. Excessive alcohol consumption can overwhelm the liver&#8217;s capacity to metabolize alcohol, leading to elevated blood alcohol levels. This raises the chances of lingering damage to the body, which can be very visible in <a href=\"\/what-is-end-stage-alcoholism\/\">end-stage alcoholism<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;How Long Does It Take Alcohol to Leave Your System?&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1714767837504-6f8ceb68-835b&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The process of alcohol leaving the body involves several stages of metabolism and elimination. This is all influenced by factors like the amount of alcohol consumed, body weight, a person\u2019s gender, age, liver function, and if\/how much food is in their stomach. For example, larger individuals may metabolize alcohol more quickly than smaller individuals due to differences in body composition and liver size. Men typically metabolize alcohol more efficiently than women, as women tend to have lower levels of the enzymes necessary to break down alcohol (and tend to be smaller in size than men).<\/p>\n<p>Typically, the body metabolizes alcohol at a relatively constant rate of about 0.015 grams per deciliter (g\/dL) per hour, which is equivalent to approximately one standard drink per hour for most individuals. This means that it takes about one hour for the body to metabolize one standard drink, which is equivalent to approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol. Therefore, if a person consumes two drinks, it will take about two hours for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to return to zero. It typically takes the body several hours to completely metabolize and eliminate alcohol from the bloodstream.<\/p>\n<p>However, it&#8217;s essential to note that individual variation can significantly affect alcohol metabolism and elimination. Factors such as liver function, hydration levels, and the presence of other substances in the body can all influence the rate at which alcohol is processed and eliminated. If a person has an <a href=\"\/alcohol-addiction\/\">alcohol addiction<\/a>, their body will process things differently than if they\u2019ve never drank before.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-does-alcohol-affect-the-body\"><\/span>How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13003 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/alcohol-affects-body.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman runner on road, bending leg at the knee in standing stretch\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/alcohol-affects-body.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/alcohol-affects-body-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/alcohol-affects-body-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Alcohol affects nearly all systems of the body but in very different ways. When people say that alcohol is a depressant, this doesn\u2019t just refer to how it affects mood. Alcohol also has this effect on the central nervous system, slowing down brain function and altering neurotransmitter activity. This is what leads to effects such as relaxation, impaired judgment, and reduced coordination. But this can also lead to adverse effects when trying to <a href=\"\/does-alcoholism-require-detox\/\">detox from alcohol<\/a>, including the neurological phenomenon of delirium tremens.<\/p>\n<p>Drinking alcohol increases the release of dopamine, producing feelings of pleasure and euphoria. But this also affects other neurotransmitters, which can contribute to mood swings and cognitive impairment. Alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration, disrupting electrolyte balance and impairing kidney function. It can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting, and inflammation of the stomach lining.<\/p>\n<p>But alcohol also affects the body over time, and sometimes in even more severe ways. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to liver damage, cardiovascular problems, weakened immune function, and an increased risk of various cancers. Alcohol consumption can also impair sleep quality, disrupt hormone balance, and contribute to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-alcoholism\"><\/span>What is alcoholism?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a chronic condition characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption despite negative consequences on physical health, mental well-being, and social functioning. Individuals with alcoholism may experience cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cut down or stop drinking. The disorder often progresses in severity over time, leading to significant impairment in various areas of life, including work, relationships, and daily activities. Alcoholism is associated with a range of health risks, including liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and mental health disorders.<\/p>\n<p>Treatment for alcoholism typically involves a combination of <a href=\"\/therapy\/individual-therapy\/\">individual therapy<\/a>, medication, and support groups (sometimes in the form of group therapy) to help individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. Early intervention and support are essential for preventing its long-term consequences. <a href=\"\/relapse-prevention-programs\/\">Relapse prevention<\/a> should also be addressed to ensure there\u2019s no chance of recurring damage.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"signs-of-alcoholism\"><\/span>Signs of Alcoholism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As someone becomes more of a chronic drinker, they will likely develop a tolerance for alcohol\u2019s effects. This is just one of many signs that someone is developing an addiction to alcohol.<\/p>\n<p>Some symptoms of heavy drinking, such as <a href=\"\/can-alcoholism-cause-chronic-headaches\/\">regular headaches<\/a>, differ by the individual and their body\u2019s reaction to alcohol. But in terms of behavior, there are a few universally accepted signs of alcohol addiction:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Increased consumption of alcohol to feel the same effects<\/li>\n<li>Withdrawal symptoms (such as <a href=\"\/are-shaky-hands-a-sign-of-alcoholism\/\">shaking hands<\/a>) when taking breaks from drinking<\/li>\n<li>Defensive attitude when confronted about drinking<\/li>\n<li>Hiding evidence of drinking (such as empty containers)<\/li>\n<li>Using alcohol to alter mood<\/li>\n<li>Continuing to drink despite acknowledging adverse effects on their life<\/li>\n<li>Drinking more or for longer than originally planned<\/li>\n<li>Inability to stop using alcohol (despite desiring to do so)<\/li>\n<li>Using alcohol to cope with stress or circumstances<\/li>\n<li>Drinking alcohol during risky situations, such as driving<\/li>\n<li>Not meeting personal, relational, or professional obligations<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you feel like you can\u2019t stop using alcohol despite your best efforts to do so, it\u2019s important to reach out and ask for help. It\u2019s best to pursue <a href=\"\/programs\/detoxification\/\">medically-assisted detox<\/a> to purge alcohol out of your system \u2014 it\u2019s not safe to quit drinking alcohol \u201ccold turkey.\u201d Alcohol withdrawal is potentially fatal if not conducted properly and under medical supervision, especially if the person looking to quit is a chronic heavy drinker.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"recover-from-alcoholism-with-principles-recovery-center\"><\/span>Recover From Alcoholism with Principles Recovery Center<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13004 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/recover-from-alcoholism.jpeg\" alt=\"Older professional woman facilitating group while sitting between two young men\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/recover-from-alcoholism.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/recover-from-alcoholism-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/recover-from-alcoholism-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Alcohol can stay in the human body for a long time, which is one reason why alcohol use disorder is so harmful to the body. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, there is hope for recovery. Here at Principles Recovery, we work to create specialized treatment plans to help empower your journey to sobriety. Evidence-based therapy and relapse prevention work together to affirm your journey.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/contact\/\">Contact us today<\/a> to learn more about how to recover from alcoholism and start a new life of sobriety.[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion spacing=&#8221;3&#8243; gap=&#8221;3&#8243; c_align=&#8221;left&#8221; c_icon=&#8221;chevron&#8221; c_position=&#8221;left&#8221; active_section=&#8221;0&#8243; collapsible_all=&#8221;true&#8221; el_class=&#8221;tdiAccordion&#8221;][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;References:&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1715020840249-5ee7813d-cdd4&#8243;][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6527027\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6527027\/ <\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alcohol affects many different organs within the body and can be harmful to the body on many levels if consumed heavily on an ongoing basis. But when it comes time to detox the body of alcohol, it\u2019s not always a simple endeavor. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":12949,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alcoholism"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12944"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47066,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12944\/revisions\/47066"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebrandsmen.com\/principlesrecoverycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}