The liver is the primary organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol, but its capacity is limited. When alcohol is continuously introduced into the body over a short period, the liver cannot process it quickly enough, leading to a continuous rise in blood alcohol concentration, even after drinking stops.

Master of Science, Doctor Nguyen Van Son, from the Department of Gastroenterology - Hepatobiliary - Pancreatology at Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi, states that ethanol rapidly absorbs through the stomach and small intestine lining into the bloodstream, then distributes to most organs in the body, especially the brain. Ethanol directly impacts the central nervous system, inhibiting brain activity, reducing behavioral control, reflexes, and impairing cognitive function.

At mild levels, drinkers typically feel lightheaded, drowsy, and have reduced concentration. However, when excessive amounts are consumed, this condition rapidly progresses, causing individuals to lose behavioral control, slur their speech, and stagger. When blood ethanol concentration becomes high enough to cause impaired consciousness and respiratory depression, this is no longer ordinary drunkenness but is considered acute alcohol poisoning.

At this point, alcohol begins to suppress the respiratory and cardiovascular regulatory centers in the brain, causing slow, irregular breathing and a drop in blood pressure. Frequent vomiting while consciousness is impaired can easily lead to aspiration of vomit into the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia – a severe complication often seen in deeply intoxicated or unconscious individuals.

Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period increases the risk of acute alcohol poisoning. *Image created by AI*

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in the US, binge drinking occurs when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches 0,08% or higher. Specifically, this means an adult female consumes four or more standard drinks, or an adult male consumes five or more standard drinks, within about two hours. A standard drink contains about 14 g of pure alcohol, equivalent to 330 ml of 5% beer, 150 ml of 12% wine, or 45 ml of 40% spirits.

According to Doctor Son, acute alcohol poisoning can affect anyone, but certain groups face a higher risk. These include individuals with chronic conditions such as liver disease, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, or kidney disease, or those currently taking central nervous system depressants like tranquilizers or sleeping pills. Drinking large amounts of alcohol suddenly, drinking on an empty stomach, or drinking quickly and continuously over a short period causes blood ethanol levels to rise rapidly, exceeding the liver's metabolic capacity, also easily leading to acute alcohol poisoning.

When dangerous signs of poisoning appear, such as loss of consciousness, unresponsiveness when called, slow or irregular breathing, continuous vomiting, or seizures, the individual should be taken to a hospital. Doctor Son advises that while waiting for emergency services, the person should be placed in a recovery position to prevent aspiration of vomit. Do not give them anything to drink or eat, do not administer sedatives on your own, or try to induce vomiting, as these actions can worsen respiratory depression.

Adults should ideally avoid alcohol. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation, alternate with water, limit high-alcohol content beverages, and avoid products of unknown origin.

Ly Nguyen