This guide on how much to get drunk gathers the main facts, common questions and practical tips in one place.
There is no single number of drinks that gets everyone drunk. How much it takes depends on your body, what you have eaten and how fast you drink. Knowing the factors helps you stay in control.
What changes the answer
- Body weight and build. Smaller bodies generally reach a higher blood alcohol level on the same amount.
- Sex and body composition. Differences in body water and enzymes mean the same drink can affect people differently.
- Food. A full stomach slows absorption.
- Speed. Your liver processes roughly one standard drink per hour, so faster drinking stacks up.
- Tolerance, medication and tiredness. All play a part.
What counts as one drink
A standard drink is about 14 grams of pure alcohol in the US. That is roughly a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 1.5-ounce shot of spirits. In the UK, a unit is smaller, at 8 grams. Large pours and strong craft beers often contain two or more standard drinks.
Rough guide to the effects
Many people start to feel relaxed after one or two drinks. By three or four in a couple of hours, judgement and coordination are clearly affected for most adults. Driving is unsafe well before you feel drunk, and legal limits are lower than most people expect.
Staying safe
- Eat before and during drinking.
- Alternate alcohol with water.
- Do not mix alcohol with sedatives or other drugs.
- Never drive after drinking.
- Look after friends who seem unwell.
If you or someone nearby shows confusion, vomiting, slow breathing or unconsciousness, call emergency services immediately. If your drinking worries you, a GP or a local support service can help confidentially.
Knowing your own limit is more useful than any chart. Decide before you go out how many drinks you will have, tell a friend, and stick to it, because judgement is the first thing alcohol affects.
Quick questions
Does coffee sober you up?
No. Only time lowers your blood alcohol level.
Why do I feel drunk faster some days?
Tiredness, an empty stomach and dehydration all play a part.
How long does alcohol stay in the body?
About one standard drink per hour is cleared, but this varies between people.
Key takeaways about how much to get drunk
Here is a short summary of how much to get drunk so you can find the main points quickly.
- There is no single number of drinks that gets everyone drunk.
- A standard drink is about 14 grams of pure alcohol in the US.
- Many people start to feel relaxed after one or two drinks.
- If you or someone nearby shows confusion, vomiting, slow breathing or unconsciousness, call emergency services immediately.
- Knowing your own limit is more useful than any chart.
- Tiredness, an empty stomach and dehydration all play a part.
- About one standard drink per hour is cleared, but this varies between people.
Save this guide to how much to get drunk so you can find it again whenever you need a quick reminder.
If you only remember one thing about how much to get drunk, make it the practical steps covered in this guide.
Check official sources before acting on anything related to how much to get drunk, because details can change over time.
Questions about how much to get drunk are common, so it helps to compare more than one trustworthy source.
Use this page as a starting point for how much to get drunk and come back to it when your situation changes.
Good decisions about how much to get drunk come from checking the facts, comparing your options and taking your time.
Related reading:
For general background, you can look up how much to get drunk on Wikipedia.
