I'm a light-weight? Questions on alcohol.

Question

Hey all,

Tonight, while I was bowling with a party of friends, I had ten mugs of Sam Adams. That's equal to more than half-a-pitcher of beer. However, I did get messed up after it (still a little buzzed, but, after almost three hours, I'm pretty much back to normal now).

So, I have a few questions:

I'm 21 years old (on July 6th), 5'9", 150 lbs. How much alcohol should I be able to handle?

How much should I be able to handle without being a "light-weight"?

Around how long should it take me to recover?

Who's volunteering to buy me another beer?

Thanks,

Krims

Answer 1

First, if you can drink ten mugs of beer, I'm surprised you're okay.  As for your half a pitcher estimate, you're way off, hon.  I used to bartend, and a pitcher could only hold between 5-6 pints.  If you're worried that you're a light-weight, I would stop.

Anyway, there really is no scientific or mathematical equation to find out if you fall in the "light-weight" drinking category.  These are some factors that can help you determine how you or your friends will react to alcohol:

Body build - More muscular people tend to get drunker slower (blood takes longer to travel through all of the muscle).  People with higher body fat tend to get drunker faster.

s*x - Females have more body fat and contain more water than men (honest random fact).  This means women tend to get drunker faster than men...sorry girls.  It's not as likely as you think that you can drink those guy friends under the table.  Not your fault, though.

Food - Most consumed alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream when it gets into the small intestine.  If you eat food before or while you drink alcohol, the drinks stay in your stomach with the food until the food is digested.  While some alcohol is absorbed through the stomach walls, it's not much.  Foods that take longer to digest are high in fat, carbs, and/or protein.  (If you ever wondered why bar food is always fried and breaded, this is why!  Hence the term "bar food.")

Time - Your body can process one drink per hour.  One drink means one glass of wine (9oz.), bottle of beer (12oz.), or one shot of liquor (2.5 oz., straight or in a mixed drink).  Any more than that goes into your bloodstream and makes you feel that "buzz."

Hope this was educational.  Now I'm off to the fridge.  I need a Sam Adams -- all that typing made me thirsty!!

*** EDIT ***  Okay, so if you drank about 45oz. (or about four beers), and supposing you drank them within, say, an hour and a half on an empty stomach, I would NOT say you're a lightweight.  You're pretty average.  If you want to drink and hang with your friends longer next time, eat some chicken wings and cheese sticks.  You'll probably be able to finish the pitcher yourself in the same amount of time and get the same effect (or less) compared to this round.  Cheers!

Answer 2

if you take your bowling seriously dont drink till after you have played.remember a woman is medically allowed 14 units of alcohol per week.a man 21 units.ok krims? Use these guide lines and you wont go wrong, imsorry for being a spoil sport.

Answer 3

Hey krims

There isnt really an average of how much alcohol your weight or height should handle. Its more like how well your body can digest it. A light weight would be someone who takes about 2-4 shots of hard liquor and its pretty much at the border of buzzin to drunk. Those who can hold their liquor well can usually take about 5-8 shots and are at the same stage. There is no real time limit to how long it takes for you to recover casue each body digests at different rates. I know this one girl who is 5'6" 120 lbs and she can take 8 shots before she hits the drunk stage. So its kinda more about genetics.

Be safe. don't drink and drive.

Answer 4

Ten mugs? Ten drinks is pretty respectable, but ten drinks should be a lot more than half a pitcher. How big were these mugs? I can't do any calculations without more information.

Edit:

Hmm, 45 ounces of beer isn't even 4 drinks (unless is was a really strong beer) You're a bit of a lightweight, but there is nothing wrong with that. My lightweight friends always seem to have the most fun at parties, so you should be fine.