Which statement about how food in the stomach affects alcohol absorption is true?

• A. Food in the stomach speeds up absorption
• B. Food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream
• C. Food in the stomach has no effect on absorption
• D. Alcohol is absorbed only in the intestine

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that how fast you drink and whether you’ve eaten changes how quickly alcohol enters the bloodstream. When there’s food in the stomach, the stomach empties its contents more slowly into the small intestine, and that's where most alcohol is absorbed. So a meal slows the rate at which alcohol reaches the intestine, leading to a slower rise in blood alcohol concentration and often a lower peak. The stomach can do a small amount of metabolism itself, but the big effect on absorption is this slower gastric emptying. Also, alcohol isn’t absorbed exclusively in the intestine—you do get some absorption in the stomach, but the majority happens later in the small intestine.