Page 23 - Manage Licenced Premises Learner Workbook

24

Everyone has an enzyme in their stomach (alcohol
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE BAC dehydrogenise) that processes ethanol into a safer
substance. The more time the alcohol is in your stomach
Age the better this enzyme can work on it and make it less
Physically, young people have a greater tolerance for harmful to your body.
alcohol due to efficient metabolisms and livers that are In males, the enzyme is 70-80% more effective than in
very effective in processing alcohol. The older drinker females because it appears that females have less of it.
has a slower metabolism and their livers are no longer as
effective, which means their bodies do not tolerate alcohol Individual tolerance
as well as the younger group. Some people can just drink more than others even if all
the other factors are taken into account. This is called
Gender ‘individual tolerance’. The body of any experienced drinker
Women have a higher BAC after drinking the same amount will develop a tolerance to alcohol to a certain extent.
of alcohol than men due to differences in metabolism
and absorption – since men have on average more fluid Tolerance is also affected by drinking patterns. Bar staff
in their body to distribute alcohol around than women do. may get to know their regulars and become aware of those
Chemical differences between men and women also make with low tolerance who need extra monitoring.
men better able to process alcohol than women.

Industry
Training
Solutions