Another misconception is that alcohol is a stimulant. Alcohol is a drug that depresses the central nervous system. It acts as a general anesthetic, slowing the activity of the brain. This drug also doesn't require digestion before entering the bloodstream. It is absorbed directly and rapidly into the bloodstream by diffusion from the stomach and intestines.
Alcohol is absorbed faster by the body if the stomach is empty.
Food in the stomach slows absorption. Nationally, there is a slight decline in the number of traffic fatalities. However, it is safe to assume that even though the count is down, you can bet at least half of those deaths involved a drunk driver. That's been the case for decades. In Arizona, about 35 percent of the fatalities involve alcohol, according to state Department of Transportation researchers.