Ever made the daft decision to get a round in fully well knowing you've not eaten a single thing since breakfast, all in the hopes of getting drunk quicker?
Well, you may want to reconsider that particular ritual after the difference between drinking alcohol on an empty and full stomach has been demonstrated in an extremely detailed video.
The video, which was posted to TikTok, explains the entire thing. Check it out:
The video, posted by How It Works, begins by stating: "After alcohol leaves the mouth, it flows down the oesophagus and into the stomach.
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"If there is no solid food in the stomach, most of the alcohol moves down into the small intestine and will come in contact with the intestinal walls more easily and pass quickly into the blood."
It continues: "In this way, all the alcohol of one drink may be absorbed within 30 minutes.
"If one drinks alcohol with food in the stomach, it will be trapped with the food in the stomach where absorption is not very efficient."
Because of this, the liquor 'can't move into the small intestine immediately'.
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This, in turn, slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream considerably leaving the guzzler in question becoming 'impaired more slowly' and will reach 'a lower peak alcohol concentration'.
"Also, alcohol increases acid in the stomach," the TikTok goes on, "which, in alcohol abusers, can lead to a severe stomach pain or sores in the intestines.
"This is why it is a good idea to eat a nice big meal while you are drinking," the video informs.
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Okay, mum.
It concludes: "In fact, the presence of fatty meals can significantly reduce the peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) up to 50% relative to that produced when alcohol is consumed on an empty stomach."
Got it.
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The video has since gone viral after clocking up more than 22.2 million views on the platform with thousands upon thousands of comments from people eager to share their reactions.
Many shared their own personal anecdotes with drinking on an empty stomach with one TikTok user revealing: "I once drank tequila on an empty stomach, never again.
"I fell down the stairs, fell onto some random persons table and walked into traffic."
Yikes.
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A second warned: "Not worth drinking on a empty stomach. I spent the next day throwing up every hour."
"In short, eat before drinking alcohol," declared a third.
Others, however, clearly missed the point altogether.
One TikTok user joked: "So drink on an empty stomach to get your money worth, got it."
"All I heard was drink on an empty stomach," wrote second.
A third echoed: "Okay so drink alcohol on empty stomach for it to be effective? Got it."
"Fine, I’ll only drink alcohol with my stomach empty then," quipped a final TikTok user.
Remember to drink responsibly, kids!
If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support
Topics: TikTok, Food And Drink, Health, Viral, Science
Rhiannon Ingle