The Beverage Alcohol Concentration at Intake and Estimated Blood Alcohol Concentrations

Belief in differential health risks for different alcoholic beverages continues despite a relative lack of supporting evidence, and continues to influence alcohol policy debate both in Finland and elsewhere. The present data from a survey of Finnish drinking habits conducted in 1992 suggest that the central issue is not the actual strength of the beverage itself but rather the solution at intake and the amount of alcohol imbibed. The results are based on a one week survey of all occasions on which alcohol was consumed from a general population survey of drinking habits. Spirits are diluted almost two times out of three when spirits are taken. The data indicate that the median alcohol content of spirits at intake was about 13 percent of volume: i.e. on half of the occasions when spirits were imbibed, the actual alcohol content was not higher than that of unfortified wines. Beer and wine were rarely diluted, white spirits and rum were almost always diluted, whereas cognac and liqueurs were taken unmixed. The data also provide a basis for estimating the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reached on each drinking occasion. There was hardly any correlation between the BAC and the actual alcohol concentration of the beverages imbibed. More detailed analyses showed mixed results. Drinking to intoxication (estimated BAC < 20 mM) was more likely with those spirits that are typically diluted than those drunk straight, but a higher percentage of the spirit intake in general occurred on such intoxicating occasions than was reported for other beverages. Older respondents reported that the primary beverage used when drinking to intoxication was spirits, but younger ones said beer. The results are only for Finland, but show little basis here for the traditional tripartite (beer, wine, spirits) division of beverages in prevention of alcohol-related harm.

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Effect of alcohol swabbing of venepuncture site on blood alcohol estimation: A literature review

IP International Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicological Sciences ◽

10.18231/j.ijfmts.2021.009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 36-39

Author(s):

H.S Taiya ◽

H.V Vaidya ◽

A.A Tawara ◽

Y.T Jadhav ◽

A.L Bandgar

Keyword(s):

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Significant Extent ◽

Alcohol Content ◽

Legal Cases ◽

Medical Practitioners ◽

Common Information ◽

Medical Graduates

Estimation of blood alcohol concentration is one of the very important investigations in medico-legal cases dealing with drink and driving, alcohol toxicity etc. There are many factors which may influence estimation of blood alcohol concentration of an individual. One of these factors is thought to be application of alcohol containing swab at venepuncture site, prior to collection of blood for alcohol estimation, either by gas chromatography or by enzymatic assay. Alcohol content of swab, either plain ethanol or iso-propyl alcohol, is said to influence blood alcohol estimation, to a significant extent, is a very common information rather misinformation given to all medical practitioners worldwide. Unfortunately, Courts of Law, in India also have to believe on this, and in many cases defence try to create benefit of doubt, using this information. It is commonly learnt and taught to Medical graduates, that while collecting blood samples from an individual for Blood Alcohol estimation, spirit swab should not be used for cleaning area of venepuncture. This is due to reason believed so far, that alcohol swabbing of venepuncture site can alter Blood Alcohol Estimation significantly. However there is no any study advocating this theory. Moreover review of literature pertaining to this subject has shown studies, which tend to prove that this concept is nothing but a myth and one has to be very particular to prove alteration in blood alcohol concentration due to alcohol swabbing of venepuncture site. Secondly, the literature and curricular statements in Forensic Medicine, which is written long back, needs exhaustive changes, and should be more evidence based.

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Reduced Blood Alcohol Concentration in Suicide Victims in Response to a New National Alcohol Policy in Slovenia

European Addiction Research ◽

10.1159/000338639 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 7-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tomaž Zupanc ◽

Mark Agius ◽

Alja Videtic Paska ◽

Peter Pregelj

Keyword(s):

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Policy ◽

Blood Alcohol

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Vive la Difference! Effects of Natural and Conventional Wines on the Blood Alcohol Concentrations: A Randomized, Triple-Blind Controlled Study

10.20944/preprints201902.0258.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Federico Francesco Ferrero ◽

Maurizio Fadda ◽

Luca De Carli ◽

Marco Barbetta ◽

Rajandrea Sethi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Alcoholic Beverages ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Production Chain ◽

Entire Study ◽

The One ◽

Kinetics Of

Background When equalized for alcohol content by volume, however, not all alcoholic beverages have the same effect on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or neurotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate differences between metabolism of a natural wine and of a conventional wine. Methods Fifty-five healthy male volunteers were randomly administered the equivalent of 2 units of alcohol (24 g of ethanol) of a natural or of a conventional wine, and one week later received the same dose of the other wine. At each of the two sessions, a breathalyzer was used to estimate BAC levels before the intake of the wine and then every twenty-minute for 2 hours. The entire study was conducted in triple-blind conditions. Results The blood alcohol curves after consumption of the two different wines diverged significantly at the twenty-minute mark (T20) and then again at their peak values. In both cases, the BAC induced by the natural wine was lower than the one corresponding to the conventional wine (T20 0.44 vs. 0.49 [p<0.012], peak 0.56 vs. 0.60 [p<0.032]). Conclusions The results of the study suggest that natural and conventional wines have a different effect on BAC. The alcohol in the natural wine seems to be absorbed more slowly. Different techniques applied in the production chain likely lead to the development of different amino acids and different types and amounts of antioxidants in the two wines. These compounds, in turn, may affect the kinetics of alcohol absorption and metabolism. The presence or absence of residues of pesticides and other agrochemicals, differences in sugar and fiber content, and the use of either indigenous or selected yeasts, are additional factors that may contribute to the differences observed. If this hypothesis is confirmed, it could have important public health and policy implications.

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Vive la Difference! The Effects of Natural and Conventional Wines on Blood Alcohol Concentrations: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Controlled Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11050986 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 986

Author(s):

Federico Francesco Ferrero ◽

Maurizio Fadda ◽

Luca De Carli ◽

Marco Barbetta ◽

Rajandrea Sethi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcoholic Beverages ◽

Metabolic Effects ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Extract Content ◽

Kinetics Of ◽

Male Subjects

Different alcoholic beverages can have different effects on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and neurotoxicity, even when equalized for alcohol content by volume. Anecdotal evidence suggested that natural wine is metabolized differently from conventional wines. This triple-blind study compared the BAC of 55 healthy male subjects after consuming the equivalent of 2 units of alcohol of a natural or conventional wine over 3 min in two separate sessions, one week apart. BAC was measured using a professional breathalyzer every 20 min after consumption for 2 h. The BAC curves in response to the two wines diverged significantly at twenty minutes (interval T20) and forty minutes (interval T40), and also at their maximum concentrations (peaks), with the natural wine inducing a lower BAC than the conventional wine [T20 = 0.40 versus 0.46 (p < 0.0002); T40 = 0.49 versus 0.53 (p < 0.0015); peak = 0.52 versus 0.56 (p < 0.0002)]. These differences are likely related to the development of different amino acids and antioxidants in the two wines during their production. This may in turn affect the kinetics of alcohol absorption and metabolism. Other contributing factors could include pesticide residues, differences in dry extract content, and the use of indigenous or selected yeasts. The study shows that with the same quantity and conditions of intake, natural wine has lower pharmacokinetic and metabolic effects than conventional wine, which can be assumed due to the different agronomic and oenological practices with which they are produced. It can therefore be hypothesized that the consumption of natural wine may have a different impact on human health from that of conventional wine.

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The Importance of Alcohol Testing by Gas Chromatography vs the Cordebard Classical Method Modified in the Medico Legal Investigation

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.9.6543 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (9) ◽

pp. 2407-2410

Author(s):

Dan Perju Dumbrava ◽

Carmen Corina Radu ◽

Sofia David ◽

Tatiana Iov ◽

Catalin Jan Iov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gas Chromatography ◽

Chromatographic Method ◽

Classical Method ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Technical Details ◽

Gas Chromatographic Method ◽

Alcohol Testing ◽

Living Person

Considering the growing number of requests from the criminal investigations authorities addressed to the institutions of legal medicine, testing of blood alcohol concentration both in the living person and in the corpse, we believe that a presentation of the two methods which are used in our country, is a topic of interest at present. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with the technical details on how blodd alcohol concentration is realised by means of the gas chromatographic method and the classical one, (Cordebard modified by D. Banciu and I. Droc) respectively. Another purpose of this article is to also show, in a comparative way, the elements that make the gas chromatographic method superior to the former one.

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A Driving Simulator Study of the Performance Effects of Low Blood Alcohol Concentration

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129604001817 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 40 (18) ◽

pp. 943-946 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Wade Allen ◽

Zareh Parseghian ◽

Anthony C. Stein

Keyword(s):

Divided Attention ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Large Body ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Performance Effects ◽

Driving Task ◽

Simulator Study ◽

And Performance

There is a large body of research that documents the impairing effect of alcohol on driving behavior and performance. Some of the most significant alcohol influence seems to occur in divided attention situations when the driver must simultaneously attend to several aspects of the driving task. This paper describes a driving simulator study of the effect of a low alcohol dose, .055 BAC (blood alcohol concentration %/wt), on divided attention performance. The simulation was mechanized on a PC and presented visual and auditory feedback in a truck cab surround. Subjects were required to control speed and steering on a rural two lane road while attending to a peripheral secondary task. The subject population was composed of 33 heavy equipment operators who were tested during both placebo and drinking sessions. Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed a significant and practical alcohol effect on a range of variables in the divided attention driving task.

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4. Are a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 256mg/dl and Minimal Signs of Impairment Reliable Indications of Alcohol Dependence?

Medicine Science and the Law ◽

10.1177/002580249403400316 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A W Jones

Keyword(s):

Expert Witness ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Drunk Driving ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Driving Under The Influence ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Lower Court ◽

Dna Profile ◽

Court Of Appeals ◽

Driving Scenario

This article describes a drink-driving scenario where a woman was apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 256mg/dl1 The correctness of this result was vigorously challenged by a medical expert witness for the defence, who was actually a specialist in alcohol diseases. Despite reanalysis to confirm the BAC as well as a DNA profile to prove the identity of the blood specimen, the woman was acquitted of the charge of drunk driving by the lower court. However, she was subsequently found guilty in the High Court of Appeals with a unanimous decision and sentenced to four weeks imprisonment. This case report illustrates some of the problems surrounding the use of expert medical evidence by the defence to challenge the validity of the prosecution evidence based solely on a suspect's BAC. In situations such as these, an expert witness should be called by the prosecution to clarify and, if necessary, rebut medical and/or scientific opinions that might mislead the court and influence the outcome of the trial.

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