Alcohol absorption

[Pebbilita]

Does food comsuption prevent/delay alcohol absorption?
So, if two people had 3 pints over a two hour period but one of them had steak and chips to eat during that period then they were both breathalised would there be any difference in their readings? ( assuming body mass and height etc were the same)

[Loosehead]

Food does slow down absorption so it depends when the reading is taken but I would say after a couple of hours for example the readings should be the same.

[Pebbilita]

Thank you!

[Ethel]

This was run as an experiment on a tv programme last year.

Identical twins. They had the same food and non alcoholic drinks at the same time throughout the day.

During the evening, they both drank the same. Several pints of lager.
One ate a three course meal and snacks throughout. The other ate nothing.

At the end of the evening they were breathalysed and gave blood samples.
The difference was quite astonishing. There was a lot less alcohol absorbed by the 'eating' twin, while the other was very, very drunk.
The twin who ate was still under the alcohol limit for driving, but the programme did stress that eating food should not be taken to mean you are fit to drive after drinking alcohol.

[Pebbilita]

Thanks Ethel, did the programme say how long after the last time he'd eaten the 'eating guy' was breathalised? As it may have taken longer for the alcohol to be absorbed, however, blood concentration over time would have reached the same level as his brother.

[shazza_s]

Hi

I live in France, where the drink/drive limits are lower than in the UK, but they seem to have the same problems with drunk drivers. As part of a 'safe drinking and driving campaign' last summer, we were given a little cardboard wheel thingy with 2 sets of data on it for men and women, depending on your weight - one set of data is your safe limit to drink wine if you're eating, the second set of data is for drinking wine without eating. Unfortunately, I can't lay my hands on it right now so I'm not able to be more specific - soz! If I come across it, I'll come back with any more info I can.

Sharon