How Long Does It Take for Alcohol to Kick in?

Alcohol takes 15–20 minutes to kick and start leaving the initial effects, including euphoria, impaired coordination, and relaxation. But the exact time for alcohol to hit might be different for you depending on your gender, type of drink consumed, or fasting state. People drinking vodka can hit a high sooner than those taking shorts of wine. 

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Highlights

• Alcohol is a stimulant initially and can give you a high and calming effect
• As it accumulates in your body, alcohol can act as a depressant
• It can take a few minutes for alcohol to hit as it travels from your mouth to the bloodstream
• Your liver metabolizes one standard drink in an hour to prevent alcohol from causing adverse effects
• Spend less than 5 minutes to learn if you are suffering from addiction: https://www.choicepointhealth.com/addiction-self-assessment-quiz/

Alcohol Absorption

Alcohol kicks in only when it reaches the brain after traveling through the bloodstream. Here is the exact alcohol absorption pathway:

• Alcohol enters the stomach via the food pipe
• The stomach breaks down some of the alcohol
• It is then absorbed in the small intestine
• It moves to the bloodstream
• Blood carries the alcohol to the liver, brain, and rest of the body 

How Long Does It Take For Alcohol To Kick In?

Alcohol takes only fifteen minutes to kick in. In about 5 minutes, it reaches your bloodstream and takes another 10 minutes to get to your brain to start showing its effects. 

a. Initial Concentration Of Alcohol 

Since alcohol enters your blood quite quickly, you can start feeling the initial effects of alcohol in as little as 5 minutes. During this time, you may experience an uplift in your mood, relaxation,  slowed reflexes, and euphoria. 

b. Peak Alcohol Concentration 

Alcohol does not only kick in quickly but peaks faster than most of the substances. The blood alcohol levels peak in 60–90 minutes, depending on how much alcohol you have consumed and some other factors.

Why Does Alcohol Kick in So Fast?

Here are a few reasons that allow alcohol to hit quickly:

• Alcohol molecules are relatively smaller
• The small size allows alcohol to easily pass through the stomach 
• It passively diffuses to the bloodstream, requiring no transporters
• It does not need to be digested
• Alcohol mixes with water in your body and gets distributed quickly to the brain

Factors Determining The Alcohol Absorption in Your System

How long does it take to absorb Alcohol? The exact time it takes for alcohol to kick in depends on several factors including your gender, metabolism, type of the drink, and food intake.

1. Type Of The Drink Consumed 

The alcohol concentration varies between wine, beer, vodka, and other drinks. For example, the concentration of alcohol in some of the drinks is as follows

• Vodka/tonic: 20% volume/volume
• White wine: 12.5% volume/volume
• Beer: 5.1% volume/volume 

Peak blood alcohol reaches 36 minutes by drinking vodka, and 54 minutes for wine. Whereas drinking beer kicks in alcohol in 62 minutes.

2. Carbonation Drink

Drinking a carbonated alcoholic beverage will kick in alcohol faster than a non-carbonated drink. This is because carbonation puts pressure on the small intestine, making alcohol enter the bloodstream faster. 

3. Fasting Vs Fed State

Alcohol will kick in quickly if you are drinking it on an empty stomach as compared to a fed state. For instance, drinking after eating beef, tacos, or pizzas will delay the emptying of alcohol in the blood. As a result, you may experience the effects of alcohol in 20 minutes instead of 5 minutes. 

4. Gender

Due to their body composition, women are likely to experience the effects more quickly than men. A female’s body has more fat and less water than males of the same weight, allowing alcohol to get absorbed quickly. The blood alcohol concentration in women is always higher in men. As a result, women will experience high in less time than men. 

Alcohol Absorption Timeline

How Long Does It Take For Liver To Metabolize Alcohol?

In about 30 minutes, alcohol reaches your liver, which works to get alcohol out of your system. On average, your liver can eliminate about one standard drink (10 grams of alcohol) in an hour. That’s why drinking small amounts does not have a huge impact on your health. But binge drinking allows a large amount of alcohol to move to your brain and the rest of the body, where it can make the cells weak and cause deleterious health effects. 

Consequences of Misusing Alcohol

Alcohol is a stimulant in initial doses, but as you continue drinking, it acts as a depressant. You may feel more alert and confident in the beginning, but alcohol accumulation ultimately leads to anxiety, post-drinking depression, and dysfunctional coordination. 

Instant Effects

• Alcohol absorbs the nutrition, causing malnutrition
• Euphoria
• Changes in mood
• Drowsiness

Long-term Changes

• Slurred speech
• Low libido
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentration
• Wet brain

If you have been misusing alcohol, make sure to seek help from a New Jersey rehab to start your recovery journey. 

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

Alcohol Abuse and Addiction Help

If you are addicted to alcohol, it might be time to quit drinking. ChoicePoint offers complete addiction treatment services to help people struggling with binge drinking. From dual diagnosis for co-occurring mental disorders to the Alcohol MAT program to curb your alcohol cravings, we make sure so you can get the right treatment as per your diagnosis. Here is a quick overview of our treatment modalities to help you sober up quickly:

• Treatment for Alcohol and Depression
• Naltrexone 50 mg prescription
• Disulfirum prescription
• Acamprosate for AUD
• Alcohol Rapid Detox
• Virtual Alcohol Therapy
• Virtual Vivitrol Clinic

Register your interest online or start your recovery by talking to our admission team 844.445.2565.

How Long Does Being Drunk Last? What More to Expect

Here are a few commonly asked questions about alcohol’s effects on the body and brain: 

How Long After Drinking Are You Still Drunk?

You can feel drunk for 8–9 hours after drinking, but the exact time will depend on how much have you taken alcohol, your weight, your metabolism, and your gender. You should avoid driving during this time or as long as your BAC is 0.08% (as per New Jersey rules). 

How To Tell If You’re Tipsy?

Some signs that indicate you are tipsy are talking a lot, feeling relaxed, but a little less coordinated, and having difficulty processing situation information. Here are a few other signs to tell you are tipsy:

• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Being confident 
• Slurred speech

At What Age Should You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

You should try to stop drinking alcohol as soon as possible. Drinking even a few ounces of alcohol can weaken your heart, impair your brain coordination, and slow down your digestion. That’s why it is important to avoid drinking as young as you can to keep your body working normally. Make sure to contact an addiction rehab if you are addicted to drinking because quitting alcohol cold turkey could be life-threatening. 

How Long Does It Take Alcohol Poisoning To Kick In?​

Alcohol poisoning does not occur with a few shots. Since alcohol stacks up, binge drinking or consuming large amounts within two hours can lead to alcohol poisoning.  As a result, you can experience:

• Seizures
• Lack of coordination
• Slow breathing
• Confusion
• Changes in body temperature

References

1. Alcohol Research & Health. Overview: How Is Alcohol Metabolized by the Body?
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6527027
2. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research. 2014. Absorption and Peak Blood Alcohol Concentration After Drinking Beer, Wine, or Spirits
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112772/
3. National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol’s Effects on Health
   https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body
4. Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research. Gender differences in pharmacokinetics of alcohol
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11329488/
5. World Health Organization. No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
   https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health