Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Alcohol poisoning is a dangerous medical emergency that can turn deadly within minutes.
  • Many people underestimate how quickly alcohol affects the body, especially when drinking large amounts in a short time.
  • The toxins build faster than the body can process them, which slows vital functions and can stop breathing.

Alcohol poisoning is a dangerous medical emergency that can turn deadly within minutes. Many people underestimate how quickly alcohol affects the body, especially when drinking large amounts in a short time. The toxins build faster than the body can process them, which slows vital functions and can stop breathing. Knowing the signs of alcohol poisoning helps people act quickly and can save a life. When symptoms appear, immediate medical care is the only safe option.

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol poisoning happens when the body cannot process alcohol fast enough.
• Drinking large amounts in a short time greatly increases the risk.
• Symptoms depend on blood-alcohol levels but can become life-threatening quickly.
• There is no home cure, and emergency medical treatment is required.
• Calling 911 and staying with the person until help arrives can prevent complications or death.

Upon consumption, alcohol has a relatively quick and aggressive effect on the body. It takes the body roughly one hour to break down 0.25 ounces of alcohol. Because of this, alcohol can absorb into the blood in as little as 30 minutes. When someone consumes a large amount of alcohol in a relatively shorter time, their body cannot process the alcohol contents fast enough. The toxins in the alcohol quickly release into the body and can take a while before the body finally breaks them down, causing the individual to feel drunk longer.

Multiple factors tend to play a role in determining the alcohol consumption in a person, such as:

  • Gender
  • Tolerance level
  • Weight

Since every person is unique with a different bodily and genetic structure, there is no definitive way of determining how much someone can drink to be exposed to a risk of alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking remains one of the most common causes of alcohol poisoning as it involves using a large amount of alcohol in a shorter timeframe. The choice of alcohol an individual chooses to drink also makes a difference in how long it takes them to feel drunk and develop poisoning. In that reference, it is essential to remember to understand what a standard drink means. One standard drink refers to a beverage containing around 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is equivalent to:

  • 12 ounces of beer
  • Five fluid ounces of wine
  • One and one-half fluid ounces of hard liquor

To proceed with timely alcohol poisoning treatment, diagnosing and seeking help for the problem is imperative. The symptoms of alcohol poisoning vary from one person to another; however, they mainly depend on the blood-alcohol content (BAC), a term that describes how much alcohol is present in the blood at a given time. In general, it does not take a lot of alcohol in the blood to trigger problems:

Between 0.0 and 0.05%

At this level, alcohol starts triggering mild impairment in the body. Symptoms at this stage typically include some difficulty in remembering and speaking things. The individual may feel clumsy and a little sleepy.

Between 0.06 and 0.15%

At this level of BAC, an individual experiences increased impairment with worsening symptoms that significantly impact their driving skills.

Between 0.16 and 0.30%

At this level, alcohol starts impairing an individual’s decision-making skills and judgment. They may also suffer from frequent episodes of vomiting and blackouts.

Between 0.31 and 0.45%

As the BAC crosses 0.31%, the situation becomes life-threatening, with a significant risk of death due to the depressant effect of alcohol which can slow down vital life functions.

Unfortunately, there is no definitive alcohol poisoning cure that can reverse the problem. In all cases, the victim requires an immediate shift to a medical care unit to save their life. Calling 911 when you spot someone struggling with the classic symptoms of alcohol poisoning and staying with them until help arrives is the first and the most crucial step to help someone with this potentially-fatal problem.

Following are some elements of alcohol poisoning treatment in hospital:

IV fluids

Once the victim arises in the hospital, a medical professional may start them on intravenous fluids to replace the fluids they lost from excessive vomiting. Additionally, they may aim to balance any electrolyte disruptions due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

Oxygen

A healthcare provider may administer oxygen to provide respiratory support, especially if a person is experiencing slowed or irregular breathing.

Blood Pressure Medication

Medicine can be prescribed to regulate and fix any dips in blood pressure.

Stomach Pumping

Sometimes, a doctor may insert a tube in the stomach to remove excess alcohol, which prevents the body from metabolizing any more alcohol and controlling its concentration in the blood.

Blood Filtration

Blood filtration, or hemodialysis, is a procedure that makes use of a dialysis machine to filter the blood. Using this machine, a doctor may remove excessive alcohol along with its metabolites from the body.

Anti-Seizure Medication

If the person is experiencing fits, a short-term anticonvulsant or anti-seizure medication might be used to stop them.

Keep in mind that someone experiencing alcohol poisoning requires time to recover. Even after they receive initial medical intervention, they may continue to experience severe hangover symptoms until their condition becomes stable.

As a part of alcohol poisoning treatment, a healthcare provider may counsel the victim to seek help for their excessive alcohol use from a mental health professional. These mental health professionals can also provide treatment for co-occurring disorders, such as depression and anxiety if any.

In addition to the treatment offered by a healthcare provider at the hospital, there are several ways in which you can contribute to saving the life of a person with alcohol poisoning. An individual with suspected alcohol poisoning may not just sleep this condition off. Their symptoms are likely to worsen; they may choke on their vomit or stop breathing due to severe respiratory depression. Emergency medical help is the only way to be safe so if you spot someone with active symptoms suggestive of alcohol poisoning, immediately call 911. As you wait for the emergency responders to arrive at the scene, keep the following tips in mind to help the victim as much as possible:

If the individual is awake, try to keep them awake by talking to them or engaging their mind in some kind of activity:

  • Keep them in a sitting position if they are conscious
  • Keep them away from any drugs or alcohol
  • If the person loses consciousness at any point, lay them down on their side
  • Stay with the individual until help arrives

As soon as the paramedics arrive, be prepared to inform them whatever you can about the person. It might help to describe how much the individual drank and what they had been doing since you called them.

If someone you love has been showing dangerous intoxication symptoms, the following are some alcohol poisoning self-care tips to help them out:

Never leave them alone to sleep it off.

The amount of alcohol in an individual’s body may continue to rise even if they have stopped drinking as their gut might continue absorbing alcohol. So do not let them sleep on their symptoms, as excessive alcohol may stop their breathing as they sleep without any warning signs.

Don’t give them coffee.

Many people believe that because coffee is a stimulant, it can fight off the sedative effects of alcohol. In reality, just like alcohol, coffee severely dehydrates the body, and the cumulative effects of both drinks can trigger permanent brain damage.

Stop them from intentionally vomiting.

Another common misconception that people have regarding alcohol poisoning treatment is that self-induced vomiting can make it better. However, in people with severe intoxication, the gag reflex might be compromised, which can make them choke on their vomit.

Do not let them walk around.

As a depressant, excessive alcohol in the body can slow down the brain’s functions while negatively affecting the body’s balance. Walking an intoxicated person around in such a situation may lead to accidents.

Avoid putting them in a cold shower.

Giving an intoxicated person a cold shower is not a good idea, as alcohol itself lowers the body temperature to a significant extent. As a result, the victim may undergo hypothermia which may prove life-threatening. The best advice is to make the person lie down comfortably and wait for the paramedics to arrive.

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FAQs

How does drinking lots of alcohol in one go affect the body?
Drinking a lot in a relatively shorter time span can: 
Lower the blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of brain damage and risk
Dehydrate the body, which further increases the risk of brain damage
Decrease the brain functions and alter the sense of balance
Dangerously affect the breathing and circulatory systems in the body
Reduce the body temperature, leading to hypothermia
Who is at the highest risk for alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning can affect any individual who has used a large amount of alcohol in a relatively shorter time span. However, certain groups are at a higher risk of developing this life-threatening condition, including middle-aged adults and college students. When young adults go to college and start living independently, they may feel more independent and freer. Sports events and social gatherings that they regularly participate in may include heavy alcohol consumption and episodes of binge drinking. In many instances, such students may be pressured into participating in drinking games which may sharply increase their BAC, putting them at risk of poisoning. Similarly, individuals who start using alcohol at an early age are also more likely to develop alcohol abuse and alcohol poisoning at some point in life. Other influences, such as depression and stress, may also cause chronic alcohol use, paving the way for alcohol poisoning.
How long does alcohol remain in the body?
Different tests are available at present to determine whether an individual has consumed alcohol in a certain time duration. Depending on the type of test used, the time for which alcohol remains in the body can vary, such as:
A blood test may detect alcohol metabolites for up to 12 hours after the last drink
A breathalyzer can detect alcohol traces in the body for 24 hours following the last drink
A saliva test can detect alcohol residues for 1 to 5 days after consumption
Hair follicle tests can detect alcohol in the body even if you had your last drink up to 90 days ago
How much alcohol can kill you?
A blood alcohol concentration between 0.60 and 0.80 percent is likely to induce fatality. However, the exact amount of alcohol that can kill a person may vary from one individual to another. Keep in mind that engaging in binge drinking or having four drinks for women and five drinks for men within two hours can quickly increase the BAC up to 0.0%

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