HomeAnswersToxicologyalcoholismI had extra alcohol at night. Yet in the morning, my blood alcohol level came high. Why?

Can drinking extra alcohol at night still reveal high blood alcohol levels in the morning?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Prabhakaran

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At November 3, 2023
Reviewed AtDecember 12, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I was arrested for drunk driving and I believe I was maliciously spiked. I had drunk one glass of alcoholic wine, around 4.2 Oz and my friend poured me a glass of wine which was supposed to be non-alcoholic. I am a 5 feet 9 inches female, I weigh 168 lbs, I had not eaten since breakfast time, and drank the alcohol at 9 pm. My blood alcohol came back at 113 g/dL. I wondered if I would be under the limit without that second glass of wine. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Prabhakaran

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern. Many people have the false impression that driving after one drink is fine. The truth is that even one glass of wine can make you legally drunk. Many factors affect a person’s tolerance for alcohol. The number of drinks consumed is only one of them. The individual physical characteristics of a person’s body also affect tolerance, including their body mass index (BMI), weight, the alcohol content of the drink, how much alcohol is consumed over a certain timeframe, and even the setting where the drinking occurred. Whether a person can drive after one drink depends on the individual. The alcohol content of the beverage is an important factor. One glass of wine has more than double the alcohol content of the average beer (11.6 percent vs. 4.5 percent). In other words, having one glass of wine could be the equivalent of drinking about two-and-a-half beers, depending on the size and type of the drink. The size, weight, and metabolism of the drinker also play a role. Larger people tend to be able to drink more. How much he or she has eaten before and while drinking is another. Even uncontrollable factors such as ethnicity can contribute to a person’s tolerance. In addition, exposure to sun and heat can make a difference. Alcohol is dehydrating, which can be made worse in hot conditions where people are also sweating, such as at the beach. I hope I have cleared all your doubts.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Prabhakaran
Dr. Prabhakaran

General Medicine

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