Alcohol

What happens in the intestines?

The intestinal villi, the millions of hairlike projections that line the inner walls of the small intestine, greatly expand its surface area. This enables nutrients to be absorbed into the blood more efficiently.

Alcohol molecules penetrate the cell membranes of the villi and enter the blood vessels. The blood carries these molecules away.

All the alcohol from each drink is absorbed into the blood within one hour. The blood vessels spread the alcohol throughout the body. Because alcohol molecules are so small and easily soluble, they are easily released from the blood vessels into all parts of the body.