Expert: Druideck - 4/22/2009

Question
Hi D fellow hoser!
I was never an alcoholic but I was a heavy drinker, and I used to get drunk pretty fast-just a few beers.
I cleaned myself up and went cold sober for months,I even took supplements to flush my liver and cut out junk food. After that it was the odd beer or two-normal drinking.
I have been to a few parties lately and thought I would get tipsy just for the hell of it like everyone else was.
To my amazement my tolerance has improved- I can drink a sixpack of high alcohol booze and just get a little buzz. Before I would be acting drunk.
Whats up with that? Has my liver/system improved and I can tolerate booxe better?
Dont worry I dont plan on drinking much again-it IS fattening. Just wondering whats going on.
Thanks!

Answer
Good day,

The way it works is after a period
of heavy alcohol use the liver
develops more of the enzymes
that metabolize or oxidize the
alcohol.
This is called protracted tolerance.
You may have developed some extra
liver enzymes over time.
Another thing that affects tolerance
is body mass or having a full stomach
before drinking.
Just drinking itself can increase tolerance
until the liver gets damaged and
then tolerance is reduced as in later
stages of alcoholism.

Anyway  it sounds like your liver
is working overtime processing
the alcohol quickly so your tolerance
is reduced for now.
Eventually any heavy drinking will reduce
your tolerance again.
Moderation is safer for your general health.
Take care!