Alcohol affects different people in different ways, and can even affect a single individual differently in varying circumstances. Medical conditions, and daily variables such as diet, sleep levels, weather conditions or even mood can all change the way that alcohol affects a person, as well as affecting their ability to properly perform field sobriety tests. There’s also a significant disparity in the way alcohol affects men over women.
Women tend to reach a higher BAC sooner (after fewer drinks) than men, because they tend to have less water in their systems, and more fat. Alcohol combines with water in the body; a person with lower water levels will have a higher BAC than another person with higher water levels consuming the same amount. Lower fat to muscle ratios also affect absorption, as fat does not absorb alcohol as readily as lean muscle tissue.
Women also tend to metabolize, or process, alcohol more slowly than their male counterparts, due to the fact that they have lower levels of the ADH enzyme. This enzyme helps metabolize alcohol in the system. Lower levels mean more alcohol reaches the bloodstream before being converted into acetate. Hormonal variations also affect the way alcohol is metabolize, and women experiencing premenstruation will have higher BACs from the same amount of alcohol as they would in other points in their cycle.
In addition, testing mechanisms used by police are generally geared towards men. Designed with the average male’s lung capacity in mind, breathalyzer readings from women tend to skew higher than they actually are. Also, because the outward effects of drinking are different between men and women, officers generally have a harder time accurately gauging impairment in women with standard testing.
DUI is often thought of a male issue, but many women are stopped and arrested on DUI charges. If you are a woman facing DUI charges, don’t lose hope. With the assistance of an attorney who understands the issues specific to women’s DUI cases, you will stand a much better chance of getting the best possible result from your case.
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