How long does it take for the body to get rid of one unit of alcohol?
One hour. The liver can break down most of a standard smallish drink in an hour. But, the big BUT, some of it stays in the blood for a lot longer as described below.
A standard drink (a unit of alcohol) is defined as:
- 1/2 pint of beer or cider
- A small glass of wine
- A shot of spirits (gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whisky).
However. The amount of time any alcohol can be detected in your system depends on the type of test, as shown in the following table.
How long does alcohol stay in your system? – i.e total time?
Time in body system
Blood 6 Hours
Breath 12-24 Hours (Breathalyzer)
Urine 12-24 Hours; 72 hours or more for newer test methods
Saliva 12-24 Hours
Hair 90 Days
How long does it take for alcohol to kick in?
People will generally experience the effects of a drink within 15 to 45 minutes. Yes, it is quite rapidly absorbed.
Alcohol is then broken down predominantly in the liver through the actions of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase.
