According to the 2021 Gallup poll, 60% of adults in the United States drink alcoholic beverages. As an adult in Connecticut, you probably know what alcohol does and the feelings it provides. But you might be unaware of how alcohol intoxication affects you as time goes on.
Phase 1: Slight impairment
Everyone knows the feeling as alcohol first begins having a noticeable effect on the body. People refer to this as feeling “tipsy.” Typically, this feeling happens after you have one or two drinks. As alcohol hits your bloodstream, you might feel slightly more talkative. Your attention span begins decreasing.
Phase 2: Being drunk
This stage of drinking alcohol is when most people know they’ve had enough. Most women are usually drunk after two to four drinks. Men typically need three to five drinks before reaching this stage.
Typical signs of being drunk include:
- Losing control of your emotions
- Difficulties balancing
- Feeling extremely tired
Phase 3: Severe intoxication
If you drink rapidly, consuming more than four to five drinks per hour, you risk severe impairment. At this stage, normal activities are nearly impossible to complete. You’ll also have a harder time making smart decisions, which could lead to unwise choices like drunk driving.
In this phase, you’ll likely find it hard to walk or even stand. Most people feel extreme nausea in this stage, often leading to severe nausea and vomiting. Depending on how much alcohol you consume quickly and your tolerance level, severe intoxication could lead to you passing out.
Most adults find alcohol enjoyable, but it’s easy for this powerful ingredient to lead to lots of unfavorable outcomes. If you can legally drink alcohol, do your best to consume it in moderation.
