What Does Getting Drunk Even Mean?

Last updated: 6 April 2023

[Mr.Chow breaks down what affects your alcohol tolerance & drunkenness, how your body reacts to alcohol, and ways to heal should you get wasted. Mr.Chow also shares 6 low-proof alcohol options so you don’t spend your night (or day) in a haze.]

We don’t question what getting drunk means enough. Are we supposed to casually accept the fact that a glass or two of some shots will start making us walk funny, talk funny, cry, and laugh? What is the reason? 

Well, alcohol is a toxin. Through digestion, your body produces acetaldehyde (you know how to pronounce mou? It’s eh-see-tell-de-hide), a compound.

When you drink too much, your liver cannot produce enough glutathione (an antioxidant; glu-tuh-tai-yun) that rids the compound. As a bodily reflex, your body then seeks an alternative to getting rid of the excess alcohol – through throwing up.

That’s when you know - aiya, I’m drunk. Fear not, because Mr. Chow will teach you how to take care of yourself before and after a drinking session.

What Affects Your Alcohol Tolerance and Drunkenness

Everyone reacts to alcohol differently. Mr.Chow could’ve inhaled 10 shots of vodka but still stand tall and solve maths equations, while my bro is lying on the ground after half a glass of beer.

Some of the factors that affect each person’s response to alcohol:

• Biological Sex and Body Composition

Males and females have different body compositions and hence metabolise alcohol differently. Females typically have a smaller build, higher body fat percentage, and less body water, which causes them to hold on to undiluted alcohol longer. For men who have bigger bodies, there is more space for alcohol to diffuse. Women also have less alcohol dehydrogenase - the enzyme that metabolises alcohol, leaving it in the bloodstream for a longer period. 

• Age

With age, metabolism slows and the body retains more fat. The average body water percentage also lowers. All these changes contribute to lower alcohol tolerance. Hence, it’s common to see people in the 18-24 age group deal better with the influences of intoxication, such as motor coordination.

• Ethnicity

There have been studies about people of Asian and Native American descent having relatively lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, causing the alcohol to remain in the bloodstream for a longer time. This also leads to higher alcohol sensitivity, which is quite commonly seen in particularly people of East Asian descent.

• Drinking Speed

The quicker you drink, the faster you’re allowing the alcohol to enter the bloodstream. Naturally, this will make you intoxicated much sooner than someone taking sips of the same drink at a time.

• Empty or Filled Stomach

Allowing alcohol into your system on an empty stomach will accelerate drunkenness. This is because having food in the stomach helps slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream and delays its effects. 

• Dehydration

Similar to how a naturally lower body water percentage decreases the body’s ability to metabolise alcohol, dehydration will have the same effect. As you drink more, alcohol in the bloodstream actually obstructs the water retention hormone in the kidney, causing you to have the urge to pee more often and lose body water. With less water inside you, the blood alcohol content inside your body increases, causing intoxication.

• Medication and Other Drugs

Combining alcohol with medication/drugs you are already taking could be a dangerous move. Even medicine for everyday illnesses such as Aspirin or Tylenol can increase the rate of alcohol absorption in the body and may also cause serious complications to the liver. The effects of alcohol could be doubled or tripled if you’re not careful. Mixing alcohol with depressants such as antihistamines could also cause excessive drowsiness and a higher risk of getting injured.

• General Health

Your existing state of health, including diseases and complications, along with medication/drugs that you take can also affect the way your body processes and eliminates the alcohol you consume.

How the Human Body Reacts to Alcohol

Getting drunk is more than just silly laughter and throwing up. Let’s dive into how our body reacts the moment that drop of joy juice hits the tongue.

Substance: Ethanol

Ethanol is the key component of alcohol that causes intoxication. Its molecules are tiny enough to pass between the gaps in our brain cells, interfering with our brain activity and nervous system. Hence is why too much alcohol too fast causes us to malfunction in terms of speech and behaviour.

Introduction: Mouth

Right when the alcohol meets your mouth, ethanol seeps through the blood vessels in your mouth and tongue into your bloodstream. The alcohol combines with saliva and breaks down into a substance that causes a burning sensation down your throat.

Entry: Stomach & Intestines

Around ⅕ of alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, then the rest by the small intestines and diffused into the bloodstream. Food present in the stomach will slow the absorption process and you won’t fall drunk as quickly as on an empty stomach.

Infiltration: Bloodstream

Alcohol travels through your entire body via the bloodstream, impacting various bodily systems until the liver starts breaking down the alcohol. During this process, blood vessels are dilated and you would start to feel your skin flushing, fleeting warmth throughout your body, a rapid decrease in body temperature, and a drop in blood pressure.

Concentration: Brain

Because alcohol doesn’t have to be digested, it usually reaches your brain in 5 minutes and its effects usually kick in within 10. As the blood alcohol concentration starts to increase, the ‘feel good’ hormones (dopamine and serotonin) are released in your system, making you feel more relaxed and happy. 

If the drinking continues, the alcohol proceeds to depress the brain's communication pathways, causing physical symptoms such as slurred speech, blurred vision, dizziness, and difficulty with motor coordination.

Suppression: Kidneys

Alcohol suppresses the antidiuretic hormone and increases urine production, causing you to visit the loo very often and lose a big portion of your body fluids. Your kidneys will have a harder time filtering the blood as it is concentrated with alcohol. The lack of water in your body can then make you even drunker.

Evaporation: Lungs

Besides the liver doing the work of metabolising alcohol, approximately 8% of the alcohol you consume is expelled through your breath. The ethanol moves from the blood vessels through the lungs and evaporates as you breathe. This is why you know someone has been drinking just by smelling them.

Oxidisation: Liver

The real lifesaver that works its hardest oxidising alcohol after it enters your system. However, it does have a limit - the liver can only oxidise one standard drink of alcohol per hour. Hence, a higher alcohol concentration is travelling through your bloodstream if you consume anything more than that.

Dealing with the Aftermath of Alcohol

Being drunk may be a little relieving and even fun when it’s happening. But then your head starts spinning and mysterious stains start appearing on your shirt. The morning after is almost never pretty - here are some tips on how to deal with banging hangovers:

• Hydrate

Water, fruit juice, coconut water, and electrolytes are a great way to restore more water content into your body as alcohol really dries you out, especially if you are prone to sweating, vomiting, and having diarrhoea during your hangovers. Adding some lemon to your water could also serve as a good detox. 

• Fuel with Food

Alcohol lowers your blood sugar level and causes fatigue and lightheadedness, so eating bland foods and carbohydrates such as toast and crackers may restore it back to normal. Contrary to common practice, indulging in heavy meals is not a good solution to a hangover. In fact, digesting greasy food after a drunken night will only add more stress to your metabolic system, delaying your recovery. Opt for light food like vegetable soups, smoothies, and eggs instead.

Another pro tip is to eat up antacids before, during, or after your drinking session. This is because alcoholic drinks are acidic, and antacids neutralise the acid in your stomach to help relieve heartburn or indigestion. 

You can get antacid* tablets or liquids at places like Guardian or Watson. 

An alternative is eating ginger pieces or cardamom spices as they have anti-nausea effects. It will do wonders in helping your body cope with stress from alcohol!

*Disclaimer: Mr.Chow does NOT provide medical advice. The information offered is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor or GP before use.

• Take a Pain Reliever 

Only if you really need it, a single dose of pain-relieving pills could help ease the throbbing headache. However, avoid Tylenol, Paracetamol, and Panadol as those can force your liver to work overtime and cause permanent damage. 

• Sleep it Off

Sleep heals the body. Give it time to recuperate through slumber and your hangover may be gone when you wake up. 

Steps You Can Take to Avoid Getting Wasted

For a man, moderation means you don't consume more than two drinks daily. And if you are a woman, you should only consume one drink (sad).

How much is a drink? For beers like Carlsberg or Tiger, it’s 350ml. If you prefer wine, your cap is 150ml. And if you’re a sucker for liquor, your limit is 45ml.

Mark Twain once said, “too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” Mr.Chow begs to differ. Too much good whiskey may damage our organs and weaken our immune systems. 

Zomok waste so much money on medical bills? Had you practised safe drinking habits, you can spend your money on Mr.Chow Liquor Store and enjoy the best alcohol to drink from time to time! So Mr. Chow is here to provide advice on how to prepare your body for a night of drinking:

• Set Limits

Before you start enjoying yourself during Happy Hour, decide how many drinks you will have. If five is the limit, stick to it. If you hear yourself thinking, “aiya, one more won’t kill”, OI! Yes, yes. It is lame to keep a tab on the shots or glasses of alcohol you have taken when all you want is to drink, forget the world, and have a good time. Still, playing safe is always better than feeling sorry.

• Have Some Food Before You Go

Food in the stomach will help slow alcohol absorption in your body, consequently slowing down the effects it would have on you. Have a meal high in antioxidants to help your liver eliminate the toxins in your body as you drink. A vitamin or antioxidant supplement works too.

Eat closer to the time you plan to drink so the food can serve its purpose throughout the duration of your drinking. Eating high-protein foods and complex carbs will be a good idea as they take longer to digest and will stay in your stomach as a cushion inhibiting the incoming alcohol from rapidly entering the bloodstream.

•  Go for Clear Spirits

Studies have shown that dark liquors such as whisky and red wine tend to cause worse hangovers due to another present toxic component alongside ethanol - methanol. Hence, maybe stick with clear liquors like vodka and gin if you want to avoid getting drunk too quickly and too hard.

• Sip, Don’t Chug

Chugging alcohol will only create a high alcohol concentration in your bloodstream, as the body is unable to process more than one standard drink per hour. So pace your drinks and take your time with them to have better control over your mind and body.

• Don’t Put All Your Focus on the Booze

Switching between your cocktail and water or food is a good way to make sure you’re drinking slowly and staying hydrated. Having snacks while you’re at it also helps delay the effects of intoxication.

• Avoid Shots

Shots are typically high in alcohol content, plus it only takes a second for them to go from a glass down your throat. Taking shots will only land you d-d-d-drunk before you have time to say “I feel fine!”  

• Try Saying No

Don’t let peer pressure get to you. If that one friend just won’t get off your back, just say “no” and stand your ground. This may make you feel like a killjoy, but watching out for yourself is more important than pleasing others. In fact, most people would understand where you’re coming from.

• Don’t Be A Cheapskate

Don't so giam siap with your body! Buy and drink the real deal.

Alcohol can be cheap and still be genuine like the ones offered by Mr.Chow Liquor Store - we’re talking about low-quality, unreliable, cheap liquor.

Cheap liquor uses plenty of sus and low-grade ingredients during production. As a result, impurities concentration becomes high during fermentation, and your body, foreign to this foreign “dirt”, gets confused and treats them like poison. As a result, a puke fest awaits.

Low-Proof Alcohol Options

Can’t give up the alcohol but hate hangovers? Try going for drink options with lower ABVs:

• Alternative Gin & Tonic - Ask for a gin and tonic with the gin switched out for a fortified wine such as sherry or white port.
• Bellini - Made with peach puree and prosecco, the average Bellini has an ABV of less than 10%.
• Sangria - A fruit fest of a red wine cocktail. Easy to DIY at home, control its alcohol strength by adjusting the amount of brandy that goes into it. An easy substitute you can use is sparkling water.
• Honey Deuce - Lemonade spiked with just a shot of vodka and raspberry liqueur.  
• Mojito - The main star of the cocktail is white rum. However, once combined with lime, soda, sugar and mint, the Mojito comes in at only about 10-15% ABV.
• Beer - Beer in general already comes with quite a low ABV of around 5%, but if you want something even lower, many beer brands such as Corona, Heineken, and Busch provide light versions with only around 4.1% ABV. 

Give it a Second Thought Before You Chug

Drink moderately today so you’re still in the spirits to drink moderately again tomorrow. With that said, head over to Mr.Chow Liquor Store and pick out something you like, why don’t you?