Height and weight matter. Scientific studies show that individuals with a higher percentage of body fat become intoxicated more quickly than those with a lower body fat percentage. This happens because fatty tissue absorbs less alcohol than muscle, which leads to a higher concentration of alcohol in other areas of the body, and ultimately a higher blood alcohol content.

Eating food before you drink can help slow the rate of intoxication because the time it takes for the alcohol to be absorbed in the body depends on how quickly it's able to leave your stomach. If there's food in your stomach, it will take longer for the alcohol to pass through and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Eating food after drinking won't have any effect.

Women tend to become intoxicated more quickly than men because they typically have a higher percentage of body fat, which means their bodies are composed of less water. When consumed, alcohol mixes with the body's water, and since women's bodies have less water to dilute the alcohol, it is more likely to become concentrated in a woman's body than in a man's.

The faster someone drinks, the faster he or she will become intoxicated. Blood alcohol content (BAC) is dependent upon the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate at which the body can metabolize that alcohol. The body is only able to metabolize about one drink per hour. If alcohol is consumed faster than the body can break it down, BAC levels will rise and the rate of intoxication will increase.

Mixing alcohol with drugs – including over-the-counter medications – can increase the rate of intoxication and may be harmful. Several medicines contain more than one ingredient that can cause negative reactions when combined with alcohol. Be sure to ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about how alcohol might interact with the medications you're taking.