The blood alcohol curve as a function of time and type of beverage: methodological considerations

Six male subjects came to the laboratory on three different occasions and drank either spirits, wine, or beer. The spirits drink contained 1.0 ml of pure alcohol/kg body wt. and the other two drinks were 20% larger. The blood alcohol curve was monitored every 15 min. The mean peak level was roughly the same for the three types of beverages although the peak was reached later for wine and beer. For spirits and beer the curve dropped off smoothly after the peak was reached while for wine the peak level was maintained for about 60 min. Individual curves varied greatly for all three beverage types. The results are discussed in terms of methodological complications when doing experimental research in the laboratory.