Page 24 - Manage Licenced Premises Learner Workbook

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FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE THE INTERACTION OF ALCOHOL WITH
ABSORPTION RATE OF ALCOHOL DRUGS

Someone under the effects of illegal drugs and/or legal
Understanding how the body deals with alcohol can help medications, as well as alcohol, may undergo sudden
to minimize its harmful effect on the body. A range of change in behaviour. Drugs can magnify the effects,
factors may influence the effect alcohol has on the person making customers more unpredictable than if they had
drinking it. Some of these are beyond the influence of the just consumed alcohol. It may increase the risk of sedation
person selling or supplying alcohol, others may be able when mixed with other sedating drugs, or counteract the
to be controlled by the individual and are open to being effect of stimulant drugs.
influenced by serving staff.
They may become irrational or violent, or simply fall
FOOD: asleep or pass out. They may have blood-shot eyes and
If there is food in the stomach this will slow down the constricted or dilated pupils – again depending on the
absorption of alcohol into the blood. This is because drug. There may be motor function failure. When alcohol is
the pyloric valve closes when food is in the stomach so taken with cannabis, driving ability is significantly impaired,
the alcohol cannot get through - it stays there with the even more than when alcohol is drunk alone.
food while the food is digested - thus slowing down the
absorption rate and giving the liver time to catch up and The body is likely to want to vomit to expel the toxins.
break down the alcohol already in the blood.
Drugs are drugs whether legal or illegal - they affect the
CONCENTRATION OF ALCOHOL: absorption rate and effects of alcohol the same way. It is
Highly concentrated beverages such as spirits are more not safe to mix any drugs with alcohol.
quickly absorbed.
Behavioural changes could be very varied depending on
SUGAR LEVEL: the combination, but all should be considered potentially
Drinks with a high sugar content will be absorbed more dangerous, for the customer and/or yourself and other
slowly, due to the complexity of the sugar molecule, as it is patrons, or the outside community.
a carbohydrate and is treated by the stomach like food.
Drugs and what they do to people are well documented in
CARBONATED DRINKS: The Police Managers Guild Trusts and Health Promotion
Drinks made with carbonated mixers will be absorbed more Agency publications. You can access these on www.
quickly as the carbonation assists the absorption process. pmgt.org.nz or www.alcohol.org.nz.

CONSUMPTION RATE:
The body (liver) can only process approximately one
standard drink per hour. If a person drinks more quickly
than this, the alcohol will build up in the bloodstream.
BODY TYPE:
Heavier and more muscular people have more fat and
muscle to absorb the alcohol.