How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Urine? Understanding Detection Windows

How Does the Body Process Alcohol?

The chemical name for alcohol is ethanol. When you drink alcohol, the body processes and excretes it from your system, primarily through the liver, to be broken down by dehydrogenase. This enzyme changes alcohol into acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) compound.[2] Another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase, breaks acetaldehyde into acetate. The kidneys excrete a small amount of unmetabolized alcohol and alcohol metabolites, while the majority of alcohol is metabolized by the liver.

Your genetics, your alcohol tolerance, and the amount of alcohol you consume in a period can affect how long alcohol stays in your body.

How Is Alcohol Measured in the Body?

Blood alcohol content (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol that’s circulating in the bloodstream. It’s recorded as weight in milligrams per unit of volume in milliliters, expressed as a percentage.[3]

Common belief is that the amount of alcohol in the blood is the amount of alcohol consumed. BAC is determined by the amount and rate of alcohol consumption and other factors, such as stomach contents, blood flow, body fat percentage, gender, and your weight and age.

The tests that are used to measure BAC can detect blood alcohol levels for up to 12 hours after consumption. This is often requested by law enforcement to check for underage drinking or impaired driving, but some employer screenings may be used to test for alcohol consumption on the job.

Generally, these BACs indicate different levels of impairment:[4]

• No impairment/sober: 0.0%
• Legally intoxicated: 0.08%
• Very impaired: 0.06%-0.4%
• Alcohol poisoning: 0.4% and above

Factors That Affect BAC

Different factors can affect how quickly alcohol is broken down by the body, which affects how quickly it’s metabolized and excreted. These factors include body weight, age, the contents of the stomach, how quickly alcohol was consumed, medications, sex, metabolism, and the type and potency of the alcohol itself.[5]

How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Urine?

BAC and alcohol concentration in urine are different. Alcohol may be detectable in urine for a lot longer than in the blood. Any amount of alcohol, even a sip, can show up on a urine test.[6] This is due to the byproduct (alcohol metabolite) of ethanol, ethyl glucuronide, which is formed whenever any amount of alcohol is consumed.

What Are the Signs of Being Drunk?

The higher your BAC, the more likely you are to have signs of intoxication – or being drunk – such as:[7]

• Slurred speech
• Impaired coordination
• Lower inhibitions
• Confusion
• Poor memory
• Poor concentration
• Decreased breathing

Being drunk puts you at a high risk of dangerous situations, including car accidents, engaging in unprotected sex, violent interactions, or suicide and homicide.

How Long Does It Take for an Alcoholic Drink to Get Out of Your System?

The liver mainly breaks down alcohol at a rate of 12-25 milligrams per hour, but it can vary. About 2-5% of alcohol is eliminated through urine, sweat, and breathing, which is why any amount of alcohol will show up on a urine test.[8]

A standard drink is:[9]

• 12 fl. oz. of beer
• 8-9 fl. oz. of malt liquor
• 5 fl. oz. of wine
• 1.5 fl. oz. shot of distilled spirits like vodka, whiskey, or rum

How Long Before the Effects of Alcohol Begin?

Alcohol tolerance varies by sex. Men with a minimal tolerance for alcohol will show signs of intoxication at a BAC of 0.05%, and their ability to drive or perform other complex tasks will be significantly impaired at 0.05%.[10] At 0.10%, intoxication is obvious.

When Is Alcohol No Longer Detectable on a Test?

The amount of time alcohol can be detected in your system depends on the type of test used. Alcohol is metabolized quickly, in general, so law enforcement and medical professionals often rely on outward signs, like slurred speech or the smell of alcohol, to confirm their suspicions. A breath test – known as a breathalyzer – may be used.

What Is an Alcohol Overdose?

An alcohol overdose, also known as alcohol poisoning, is a dangerous situation. You are in an alcohol overdose when you drink enough alcohol to slow functions like breathing or heart rate to dangerously low levels.

When your BAC rises from heavy drinking, you may feel more of the negative effects of intoxication and are at a higher risk of overdose. Some of these effects include:[11]

• 0.06%-0.15% BAC: Your memory, attention, speech, balance, and coordination are impaired, and driving or other complex tasks are significantly impaired.
• 0.16%-0.3% BAC: Your speech, memory, balance, attention, coordination, and reaction time are significantly impaired, as are your judgment and decision-making abilities. You’re at risk of vomiting, blackouts, and loss of consciousness.
• 0.31%-0.45%: BAC: You are at risk of life-threatening overdose from suppressed breathing, heart rate, and body temperature.

The symptoms of an alcohol overdose include:[12]

• Loss of consciousness
• Vomiting
• Clammy skin
• Low body temperature
• Pale or blueish skin color
• Slow heart rate
• Stupor
• Severe confusion
• Slow or irregular breathing

The risk of overdose increases if you continue drinking excessively, allowing your BAC to rise as your body can’t metabolize the alcohol quickly enough. This is known as binge drinking, which is defined as 5 drinks in 2 hours for a man and 4 drinks in 2 hours for a woman.[13]

You’re also at an increased risk for overdose if you mix alcohol with an opioid or sedative-hypnotic medication, such as narcotic painkillers or prescription sleep aids. These drugs also slow your system down, so when they’re combined, it can lead to dangerously slowed breathing and heart rate – even with small amounts of alcohol.

Avoid Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol can be detected in urine, which can pick up on even a sip for 24-72 hours after drinking. There is no way to flush alcohol out of the system faster to avoid detection on a test. If you struggle with alcohol abuse, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible to avoid more serious consequences than a failed urine test – like alcohol overdose or injuries or death related to intoxication.