Why do we have different alcohol tolerances?

We all have that one friend who doesn’t seem to get drunk no matter how much they drink. Wonder why alcohol tolerance differs so drastically? Watch us explain how our body processes alcohol and discover what factors are involved in determining our tolerance towards alcohol.

This video was made by McMaster students, Arvin Gholami, Calvin Gomes, and Kiki Hudson in collaboration with the McMaster Demystifying Medicine Program.

Copyright by McMaster University 2021.

Royalty-Free Music from Bensounds

References:
1. Baraona, E., Abittan, C. S., Dohmen, K., Moretti, M., Pozzato, G., Chayes, Z. W., ... & Lieber, C. S. (2001). Gender differences in pharmacokinetics of alcohol. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 25(4), 502-507.
2. Pikaar, N. A., Wedel, M., & Hermus, R. J. J. (1988). Influence of several factors on blood alcohol concentrations after drinking alcohol. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 23(4), 289-297.
3. Jones, A. W., Jönsson, K. Å., & Kechagias, S. (1997). Effect of high‐fat, high‐protein, and high‐carbohydrate meals on the pharmacokinetics of a small dose of ethanol. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 44(6), 521-526.

[Alcadior]

after testing it with myself for years im glad i can actually explain why my methods work to never have a hangover. i always drink after i eat and i drink twice as much water than i do alcohol and never get a hangover. science is neat.

[zzzzzz]

Im a woman with an extremely high alcohol tolerance. Im one of the very few women i know who out drinks their guy friends with little to no side effects (dark liquors only). Ive always wondered what makes me so weird.. It must be muscles, though I dont look muscular.. But I wonder if its something else.. a genetic rarity. Im also one of the few people I know with trace amounts of Mongolian heritage. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[nejchumar]

that explains it im a bodybuilder and i cant get drunk ... but i rather be big and strong then weak and drunk 😆

[jameysummers]

I have ZERO tolerance. Just smelling someones drink gives me a warm horrible feeling reaction. I havent had an actual full glass drink since 1996 when I was 20.

[denise]

Why do people get Alcohol intolerance?

[amajinjams]

Im a tiny tiny woman, like im really short and petite, but i have a really high tolerance even the first time i went drinking. Whereas my brother can't even have a beer without being drunk and sick. Biology is strange.

[chriswilliams]

I can sip on screwdrivers all night and be chil, but after 3 or 4 beers I be acting like an idiot

[mattdemo]

If you are larger than most people are
Then alcohol for you, will have a lesser effect than
their body can absorb.

Then having a lesser amount limit than someone else,
They will get wasted but we barely feel anything to enjoy😂