How does the body metabolize alcohol over time?

The body metabolizes alcohol primarily in the liver, which is capable of processing alcohol at a consistent rate—typically around one standard drink per hour. This steady metabolism is due to specific enzymes, particularly alcohol dehydrogenase, which break down alcohol into acetaldehyde and then into acetic acid, ultimately leading to its conversion into carbon dioxide and water.

While other organs such as the brain, stomach, and kidneys are involved in various aspects of alcohol's effects on the body, they do not play a primary role in alcohol metabolism. The brain absorbs and reacts to alcohol quickly, but it does not metabolize it. The stomach may influence the absorption rate of alcohol, which can vary based on several factors, but it is not a major site of metabolism. The kidneys are responsible for excreting alcohol and its byproducts but are not involved in the metabolic process itself. Thus, understanding that the liver is the key organ responsible for the steady metabolism of alcohol is crucial in recognizing how the body handles alcohol over time.