Alcohol Management Team Flashcards

Team Overview

• T.E.A.M. consists of experts from various industries, including sports, entertainment, government, and broadcasting.
• Emphasizes responsible alcohol management practices across various settings.

Signs of Impairment

• Alcohol consumption leads to observable changes in behavior indicating impairment.
• Key signs include judgment, lowered inhibitions, slow reactions, and coordination difficulties.

Four Signs of Impairment

• Judgment: Includes faulty decision-making, inappropriate conduct, and poor behavior.
• Inhibitions: Characteristics encompass loud talking, flirtation, and erratic behavior.
• Reactions: Symptoms include slurred speech, forgetfulness, and glassy eyes.
• Coordination: Displays may include stumbling, falling, and losing balance.

Alcohol Tolerance

• Frequent heavy drinkers develop tolerance, affecting how impairment presents.
• High tolerance can mask signs of intoxication but does not indicate safe levels for continued drinking.

Legal Intoxication

• Individuals with high tolerance can still exceed a BAC of 0.08, indicating legal intoxication and impairment.

Factors Affecting Alcohol Absorption

• Absorption rate influences how quickly BAC increases, affected by multiple factors.
• Each person's reaction to alcohol varies with each drinking occasion.

Alcohol Characteristics

• Considered both a depressant and a food, alcohol does not require digestion before absorption.
• Women generally absorb alcohol more quickly due to smaller body size and higher fat percentage.

Rate of Consumption

• Rapid consumption leads to faster absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

Age and Alcohol Processing

• Aging decreases liver efficiency in processing alcohol, resulting in higher BAC levels.

Body Size and Alcohol Absorption

• Smaller bodies have less volume for alcohol distribution, leading to quicker absorption.
• Higher body fat percentage also speeds up absorption rates due to less capacity to dissolve alcohol.

Drink Strength and Absorption Rates

• Absorption speed: straight shots > carbonated mixers > water mixers > juice mixers.
• Carbonation increases the speed of alcohol absorption but also dilutes its concentration.

Food's Role in Alcohol Absorption

• Consuming food slows alcohol absorption by mixing with alcohol and entering digestion.
• Complex foods, like carbs and proteins, prolong the absorption process.

Alcohol Equivalencies

• Beer, wine, and liquor contain equal amounts of pure alcohol and can all induce intoxication.