How alcohol poisoning affects your body

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL POISONING

* When does drinking become toxic?

On average, a liver can process one standard drink per hour. Anything more, and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) begins to rise.

A large amount of alcohol in a shot period of time can push BAC to toxic levels.

* How much alcohol causes poisoning?

It differs depending on gender, body fat and blood-volume-to-alcohol ratio.

Regular drinkers do have a higher tolerance level for a sudden influx of alcohol but are more at risk of chronic long-term health problems.

Medication and whether or not you've recently eaten also affect how quickly alcohol is metabolised.

* What happens to your body during alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant, slowing brain and body function.

People can experience a loss of co-ordination, irregular breathing, pale or blue skin or low body temperature.

A fatal dose eventually causes breathing and the gag reflex to shut down. Excessive vomiting is also common. If a person is unconscious, this can lead to asphyxiation.

* Other contaminants

While over-consumption of ethanol (alcohol) remains the greatest poisoning risk, foreign contaminants can also prove deadly.

Methanol can be used in home-brewed drinks as well as herbicides or pesticides.

* What to do if someone is poisoned

Place the person in the recovery position, call emergency services and try to keep them warm and hydrated.

(Sources: Clinical director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital Nadine Ezard and DrinkWise.org.au)