Drinking by the pool or at a barbecue can be tempting, but it's important to stay safe amid summer fun. Every day in the U.S., about 37 people die from drunk driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And 31% of drowning deaths involve a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit .
This summer, make sure you're sober enough before getting behind the wheel of a boat or car. It's not as easy as walking in a straight line. Many factors contribute to how long alcohol stays in your system.
How long does alcohol stay in your system?
Your body can generally metabolize about one standard drink per hour . But this depends on several factors , according to Cleveland Clinic and American Addiction Centers:
- Age: Your ability to metabolize alcohol slows as you age
- Weight: Those who weigh less have less water in their bodies, which means their BAC will be higher even if they're drinking the same amount as a larger person
- Medications: Can interact dangerously with alcohol
- Overall health: Kidney, liver and stomach conditions affect the body's ability to process alcohol
- Amount: Binge drinking outpaces the liver's ability to clear alcohol from the body
Food consumption also affects how your body processes alcohol but not how long it takes for it to leave your system. Drinking on an empty stomach causes the alcohol to move quickly through your body , enhancing the effects of alcohol, including a hangover.
It's important to remember there's no reliable way to self-test if you're sober enough to drive, even if you have a breathalyzer handy. Alcohol can still impact your driving if you have a BAC under the legal limit of 0.08%. Regardless of how much you've had, it's important not to get behind the wheel of a car (or a boat) when drinking.
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How long do tests detect alcohol?
Alcohol can be detected through a urine test, breath test and even in your hair. Here's the maximum amount of time after drinking tests can generally detect alcohol, according to Cleveland Clinic:
- Blood test: 12 hours
- Breath test: 24 hours
- Saliva test: 48 hours
- Urine test: Five days
- Hair test: 90 days
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long does alcohol stay in your system? Urine, breath, blood test times explained.
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