A neurosurgeon whose teenage son was killed in a drunk car crash has detailed how long it really takes the body to break down alcohol, saying the knowledge “could actually save your life.”
dr Brian Hoeflinger, 58, of Ohio, has gone viral after demonstrating how alcohol quickly builds up in the system in his sensational TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 15.9 million times.
The doctor, who has more than two decades of experience, placed shot glasses filled with water on his counter to mimic a party where “a lot of drinks run out.”
“Suppose you have five drinks in the first hour,” he said, taking five water-filled shots in a row. “Alcohol gets into your brain in five minutes and affects you, but what you may not know is that your liver only metabolizes one ounce of alcohol per hour.”
dr Brian Hoeflinger, 58, from Ohio, shared his “Doctor’s Take on Drinking Parties” on TikTok and explained how long it really takes the body to break down alcohol
The neurosurgeon placed shot glasses filled with water on his counter to mimic a party where “a lot of drinks run out.”
According to Northwestern Medicine, the liver can metabolize an average of one standard drink per hour. A standard drink is 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or spirits.
“I’ve got five ounces of alcohol in my system right now, and by the end of the hour I’m only going to burn off an ounce, so I’m going to have it [four] ounces of alcohol in my bloodstream,” he explained.
dr Hoeflinger then threw back three shots because “the party rocks”. He noted that he “drank a total of 8 ounces of alcohol in two hours” and “burned two.” Towards the end of the fictional party, he fired again.
“Now I have up to nine ounces of alcohol in my bloodstream over three hours, and my liver has only metabolized three ounces of that,” he said. “I still have six ounces of alcohol in my bloodstream.”
The neurosurgeon reminded viewers that at this point it would take him another six hours to metabolize the alcohol in his system. Some people think they can stop drinking for an hour or two and then drive home, but that’s not the case.
HOW LONG IT TAKES THE BODY TO BREAK DOWN ALCOHOL
Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach. It reaches the brain in five minutes and starts working within 10 minutes.
The liver begins processing alcohol after 20 minutes. In general, the liver can metabolize an ounce of pure alcohol, or a “standard drink,” every hour.
A standard drink is equivalent to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. This amount of alcohol is typically found in:
- 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)
- 8 ounces malt liquor (7% alcohol content)
- 5 ounces wine (12% alcohol content)
- 1.5 ounces or “shot” of distilled spirits or liquor (40% ABV)
A blood alcohol level of 0.08 – the legal limit in the US – takes about five and a half hours to exit the system.
Sources: Northwestern Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The doctor pretended to have taken nine shots in three hours and explained that the liver could only metabolize one shot, or standard drink, per hour
The video has been viewed more than 15.9 million times and has received almost 20,000 comments. Many viewers thanked him for the explanation
According to Northwestern Medicine, it takes about five and a half hours for a blood alcohol level of 0.08 per thousand – the legal limit in the US – to leave the system.
“You’ll be drunk until the early hours. It’s not going away,” said Dr. Hoeflinger. “Alcohol can build up in your system very easily when you’re drunk and you don’t realize it, and it won’t let up for hours.
“So don’t get in a car. Don’t drink and drive. Take an Uber Take a Lyft. I mean it’s the worst thing you can do, drink and drive. You could hurt or kill yourself, or more importantly, kill someone else,” he concluded. “It’s just not worth it.”
Nearly 20,000 viewers commented on the educational clip, and many thanked the doctor for clearly explaining how long it takes for the body to break down alcohol.
‘Thank you very much. This is the first time someone has explained it to me like that. I am passing this along to my son,” one person wrote.
dr Hoeflinger shared in a previous video that he lost his teenage son Brian in a drunk car accident in 2013. “He was 18 at the time and he was this drunk driver,” he said
dr Hoeflinger asked viewers not to drink and drive during the holiday season, saying, “You never want to feel like our family feels.”
“Thank you for the care and education. I am the sober ride. I’ve seen the devastation of drinking and driving,” added another.
“Great explanation,” agreed someone else. “I could have used that 20 years ago.”
dr Hoeflinger shared in a previous video that he lost his teenage son Brian in a drunk car accident in 2013.
“He was 18 at the time and he was this drunk driver,” the father said. “Losing a loved one is one of the worst experiences you can have in your life. It hits those left behind particularly hard.
“This holiday season please do not drink or drive or get in the car with anyone who has been drinking and driving. They never want to feel how our family feels,” he added. “Please think before you drink.”