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Alcohol and Your Body

When you drink alcohol, less than 5% of the alcohol you drink is turned into fat. Most of the alcohol is converted to acetate by your liver in a process called oxidation. Oxidation must occur to prevent alcohol from accumulating and destroying your cells and organs. Once oxidation occurs, the acetate is released into your bloodstream. Your body then uses the excess acetate as energy instead of using your body’s stored fat. This creates a higher caloric intake than caloric output and this may be why some people note a weight gain. If you’re worried about weight gain, here are some steps to drinking mindfully.

  1. Ask yourself if you really want to drink.
  2. Ask for drinks mixed with juice and drink them slowly.
    TIP: hydration will help prevent a hangover.
  3. Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks or water.
  4. Eating a meal high in protein before you go out will line your stomach and slow the rate at which alcohol absorbs into your bloodstream, keeping you in control of how much you eat and drink.
  5. Listen to what your body is telling you and stop drinking when your body tells you to.

Female Blood Alcohol Content Chart
(after 3 hours of drinking)

Number of Drinks
Body Weight 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
100 .000 .042 .087 .132 .177 .222 .267 .312 .357 .402
125 .000 .024 .060 .096 .132 .168 .204 .240 .276 .312
150 .000 .012 .042 .072 .102 .132 .162 .192 .222 .252
175 .000 .003 .029 .055 .081 .106 .132 .158 .183 .209
200 .000 .000 .020 .042 .065 .087 .110 .132 .155 .177
225 .000 .000 .012 .032 .052 .072 .092 .112 .132 .152
250 .000 .000 .006 .024 .042 .060 .078 .096 .114 .132

Did you know? Alcohol is the Number One Predatory Drug


Academic Success

People dependent on alcohol showed less activation in brain areas that are needed for spatial tasks like puzzles and maps, and for working with information that is held mentally, like doing math inside your head. Students who practice weeknight sobriety:

Did You Know?

Alcohol Affects Females Differently than Males

There are three main reasons that females are unable to drink like males. Remember that all bodies are different and these suggestions are based on average female sizes and statistics. It’s important to always listen to what your body is telling you. Typically:


Tips for Drinking Responsibly

There are a number of steps you can take to stay safe while drinking and still have fun!

Alcohol and Sex

Menstruation and Alcohol



All About Sleep

Your sleep cycle has four stages. All stages are important and necessary for proper human function. Alcohol may alter the quality of sleep you get by suppressing REM and lightening sleep and you may not feel rested even after a full night of sleep.

You may also wake frequently and have problems falling back asleep as the alcohol in your body works its way out of your system. Alcohol may also increase the prevalence of pre-existing sleep disorders.