Question: Are there any studies on how much alcohol the body completely metabolizes (depending on weight and time, of course)? For example, an average man weighing x kg can drink y% alcohol per hour without effect?

Answer: The story of alcohol in the body is well known. The total grammes of pure alcohol per litre of blood, expressed in thousandths or “per mille”, not later than 1 hour after the last alcohol intake is calculated by dividing the number of grammes of pure alcohol by 0.7 x the weight of a man (or by 0.6 x the weight of a woman). One glass of pils or lager-type beer contains 12.5 g alcohol. This result gives only an approximation, because much will depend on personal characteristics, how fast or slow you drink, the accompanying food if any, and so on and so forth.

Influence begins from the moment you start to drink. It has been proven, for instance, that moderate drinking (2 to 3 units per day) is healthier than total abstinence, especially for the heart and the blood vessels. Once you exceed that amount the effect on the health becomes harmful.

The metabolization of alcohol in the body occurs at a maximum rate of 0.15 per mille per hour. That means that after drinking three glasses of beer you will have to wait at least one hour before you dip below the 0.5 per mille limit.

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