How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your Blood?

Alcohol stays in the blood for up to 12 hours. However, the duration depends on factors such as age, gender, number of drinks you have consumed, and metabolic health.

If you are looking up the answers to pass an alcohol test or to comply with driving or employment laws, learning the following will help you paint a full picture of how long alcohol stays in your system:

• Alcohol metabolism
• Blood alcohol levels
• Factors that affect the duration 

Thinking your drinking problem may be more than just a habit? Book an online consultation today for a confidential alcohol assessment in New Jersey!

CALL NOW FOR FREE SCREENING

Highlights

• Typically the body takes 1 hour to metabolize 1 standard drink. This duration is variable and depends on a lot of factors.
• Alcohol stays in the blood for 12 hours.
• Most alcohol blood tests can detect alcohol for 6-12 hours. More sensitive ones can detect metabolites of alcohol for up to 3-4 weeks.
• If you or a loved one is struggling to control their drinking habit, ChoicePoint can help with confidential help. 
• ChoicePoint at-home drug testing option to detect alcohol presence in blood.
• 5-min Self-assessment test (to check if you have drinking problem) designed by a clinical team but it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction.

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your Blood?

Alcohol is metabolized by the liver pretty quickly. It stays in the blood for only 12 hours. While most tests can detect alcohol in blood for only 6-12 hours, more sensitive tests can detect the metabolites of alcohol for 12-24 hours and as long as 3-4 weeks. 

I) How Long Does It Take for Your Blood to Be Clear of Alcohol?

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver. Two enzymes are responsible for breaking down alcohol into smaller molecules so the body can eliminate it. These enzymes are:

1. Alcohol dehydrogenase
2. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 

Once broken down into smaller metabolized alcohol is not stored in the blood or body. It remains in the body water until it is excreted out through urine.

On average, the body processes alcohol at a rate of 0.015 BAC per hour, meaning it takes about one hour to clear one standard drink from your body. However, individual metabolic rates vary.

A standard drink contains:

• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits like tequila. Vodka, whiskey, etc. (40% alcohol)
• 12 ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol)
• 5 ounces of table wine (12% alcohol)
• 3-4 ounces of fortified wine (17% alcohol)

ii) What Are Blood Alcohol Levels?

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your blood. It is typically expressed as a percentage. For example, 0.08% BAC means your blood has 0.08% alcohol by volume. BAC levels determine how “high” and affected you are. Higher levels mean that you will exhibit signs such as: 

• reduced coordination
• slowed reaction times
•  poor judgment.

Can a Blood Test Tell If You Have Been Drinking?

Yes, blood tests can tell if you are drinking by measuring blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The following types of blood tests can measure alcohol concentration in your blood:

How to Pass Alcohol Tests? 

Do you have an employment drug test coming up? Here is what works for sobering up fast for a drug test.

1. How To Sober Up At Home?

While quitting alcohol cold turkey or at home may seem like a convenient option, it is not recommended because of fatal alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Here are some myths and facts about passing an alcohol test.

Signs That You Are Drinking Too Much

Treating Alcohol Addiction Through Research-Based Treatments 

While home remedies can help with hangovers, it is not recommended for detox. Although rare, serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening. According to research, the death rate for serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms is around 4%! That means 1 in 25 people die from serious alcohol withdrawal. Without treatment, this figure is as high as 37%.

Here is how alcohol treatment centers in NJ can help you quit alcohol addiction:

Figiting Alcohol Addiction Can Be Overwhelming, We Are Here To Help Whenever You Are Ready!

Are you looking for alcohol treatment near you? ChoicePoint is a CARF-certified rehab in Fairlawn New Jersey. Our medical staff can help you quit alcohol addiction in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

Our comprehensive care model includes:

Alcohol Detox    Personalized treatments    Medication-assisted Treatment   Behavioral Therapy

Furthermore, we offer 24/7 compassionate care through telehealth addiction treatment programs. 

Why Choose ChoicePoint For Alcohol Rehab in NJ?

Choose to recover with ChoicePoint alcohol rehab in NJ because we are:

• Insurance-covered alcohol rehab 
• Led by DEA-certified staff only
• CARF-accredited 
• 5-star reviewed rehab 
• Hundreds of client success stories 

Call 844.445.2565 to schedule an appointment today!

Frequently Asked Questions About How Long Alcohol Stays In Your System

We have answered your most-asked questions about how long alcohol stays in your system.

1. How Long Should You Stop Drinking Alcohol Before a Blood Test?

It is recommended that you should stop drinking alcohol 24 hours before a blood test. But if you are a habitual drinker, chances are that alcohol will show up in the test. So, maybe this test is an opportunity for you to get professional help.

2. How Long Does Two Glasses of Wine Stay In Your System?

Your body will take about 2 hours to process and digest 2 glasses of wine. Urine tests can detect alcohol in your body for up to 24 hours. However, this duration is impacted by:

1. Your body weight and gender
2. Your liver health
3. Metabolism 

3. How Long Does Beer Stay in Your System?

The duration depends on the content of alcohol in beer. It usually takes 1 hour to metabolize 1 standard drink. 12oz beer with 5% alcohol will be metabolized in 1 hour. So how long beer stays in your system depends on:

1. The alcohol content in beer
2. Volume of beer
3. Your metabolic health

4. How Long Does It Take For Alcohol to Get Out of Your System to Drive?

The general rule is to wait 1 hour per drink. For example, if you had 2 drinks, then you have to wait 2 hours to drive. This duration depends on a number of factors such as how strong the drink was and your health.

There are several online breath analyzers to detect alcohol in your breath. You can use them or analyze your symptoms. it is recommended that you should be 100% alert after drinking to drive again

5. Will Two Beers Show Up on a Drug Test?

Yes, drug tests are sensitive to catching all traces of alcohol in your blood, urine, and hair.

Sources

1. Nehring SM, Chen RJ, Freeman AM. Alcohol Use Disorder. [Updated 2024 Mar 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436003/
2. Witkiewitz, K., Litten, R. Z., & Leggio, L. (2019). Advances in the science and treatment of alcohol use disorder. Science advances, 5(9), eaax4043. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax4043
3. Stokłosa, I., Więckiewicz, G., Stokłosa, M., Piegza, M., Pudlo, R., & Gorczyca, P. (2023). Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence-Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 1870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031870
4. Cederbaum A. I. (2012). Alcohol metabolism. Clinics in liver disease, 16(4), 667–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002
5. https://adf.org.au/reducing-risk/alcohol/bac/
6. https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article-abstract/45/2/151/134927?redirectedFrom=fulltext