The erratic effects of alcohol Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine, and transported by the blood throughout the body. This rate of elimination of alcohol is relatively constant, regardless of the total amount of alcohol consumed. In other words, whether a person consumes a few or many drinks, the rate of alcohol elimination from the body is essentially the same. The majority of adverse effects produced by alcohol relate to the brain, the eyes, and the inner ear-three crucial organs to a pilot. Brain effects include impaired reaction time, reasoning, judgment, and memory.
Alcohol decreases the ability of the brain to make use of oxygen.
This adverse effect can be magnified as a result of simultaneous exposure to altitude, characterized by a decreased partial pressure of oxygen. Visual symptoms include eye muscle imbalance, which leads to double vision and difficulty focusing. Inner ear effects include dizziness, and decreased hearing perception. If other variables are added, such as sleep deprivation, fatigue, medication use, altitude hypoxia, or flying at night or in bad weather, the negative effects are significantly magnified. Whiskey 1.25 .50 Table 1.