When alcohol is swallowed, it travels to the stomach and the small intestine. The alcohol is absorbed through the lining of the stomach and intestine and passes into the bloodstream.

• the amount and type of alcohol in the drink
• how quickly the person is drinking
• whether they have a full or empty stomach (food slows down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream)
• body size and weight (the same amount of alcohol will have a larger effect on a smaller person)
• gender (alcohol is distributed around the body in water - the female body has more body fat and less water than the male body, so alcohol concentrations tend to be higher in females).