from the digestive tract, the blood rapidly
distributes it to all body fluids, and it readily
diffuses into and across membranes to
penetrate all cells. Large people can therefore
drink more than small people without being
drunker: they have a greater volume of body
fluids and cells in which to dilute the alcohol.
Impaired coordination and impulsive behavior
usually appear when the concentration of
alcohol in the blood is 0.02–0.03%. Falling-
over drunkenness is the result at 0.15%, and
0.4% can be fatal.
As drugs go, alcohol is a relatively weak
one. It takes grams of pure alcohol, not
milligrams, to have noticeable effects, and
this allows us to enjoy moderate amounts of
wine and beer without harming ourselves. But
like other narcotic drugs, alcohol can be
addictive, and the habitual consumption of
large quantities is destructive. It has been the
cause of widespread misery and premature
death for thousands of years, and it still is.
barry
(Barry)
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